Stay tuned. More info on its way.
Found on Clarence Street, Jet Cycles stands out from neighbouring bike shops by being the exclusive Sydney stockist for global bike brands Cannondale and Specialized. The store, which was opened in 2009 by a high performance coach, offers a fitting service to make sure your new bike matches your body and feels as comfortable as possible. [caption id="attachment_777010" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cassandra Hannagan[/caption] The experienced team here believes a well-fitted bike can improve your speed and performance by up to 25 percent — and riders travel interstate for the store's two-wheeling expertise. The shop also offers comprehensive services and repairs, not to mention a range of premium gear, like Oakley sunnies, light-weight saddles and Body Geometry gloves. If you're new to cycling, you can also hire a bike to see how it feels; starting from $100 per day, you can take home a Specialized Tarmac Sport road bike to try for yourself. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
Any reason to take a holiday is a good reason to take a holiday, but a little bit of international acclaim certainly doesn't hurt when it comes to choosing a getaway spot. So, if you've been thinking about heading to Kangaroo Island at some point, or making the trip to Australia's Red Centre to soak in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park's wonders, here's the push you might've been waiting for: they've both been named by The New York Times as two of the best places to visit in 2023. The publication has put together a '52 Places to Go' list for this year, with the pair of Aussie destinations earning mentions. Even better: Kangaroo Island, the South Australian landmass that's also the nation's third-largest island, landed in the top ten. The location came in seventh, and was specifically called out for its "incredible wildlife, breathtaking ocean views, and its status as an ecological haven". [caption id="attachment_688401" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Vivonne Bar/SA Tourism Commission[/caption] If you're wondering exactly where the NYT says you should check out on the island, that'd be the Kangaroo Island Koala and Wildlife Rescue Centre, especially its private tours of its animal hospital facilities and bottle-feeding a joey while you're there — and watching sea lions at the Seal Bay Conservation Park. The Southern Ocean Lodge also scored a shoutout for when it reopens. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia's second spot on the list, ranked 29th. It was recognised for being "the shape-shifting sandstone heart of a continent and its Indigenous heritage" — and yes, its world-famous monolith obviously got a mention. [caption id="attachment_869882" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT[/caption] Still Down Under but across the ditch, the entire city of Auckland pipped both Australian locales by coming in fifth, and was dubbed New Zealand's "culinary capital". According to the NYT, travellers should add visits to Hugo's Bistro, Cazador, Omni and Little French Cafe — which serves up "mille-feuille rivaling Paris's best" — to their itineraries. Elsewhere around the globe, London came in first for being "a buzzing city ready for a coronation, a brand-new airport link and a prehistoric colossus"; with Morioka in Japan sitting in second; Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park taking out third place; and Scotland's Kilmartin Glen in fourth. Rounding out the top ten, alongside Auckland in fifth and Kangaroo Island in seventh: California's Palm Springs at sixth, Vjosa River in Albania at eighth, Accra in Ghana sitting ninth and Tromso in Norway at tenth. Other places named include Brazil's Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, the Namib Desert in Southern Africa, Flores in Indonesia, Nîmes in France, Vilnius in Lithuania, and Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. [caption id="attachment_886033" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Little French Cafe[/caption] For The New York Times' full 52 Places to Go list for 2023, head to the publication's website. Top image: Ben Goode via South Australian Tourism Commission. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world — including Kangaroo Island.
If Colin From Accounts won you over as quickly as a cute dog in the street when it first arrived in 2022 — when it became one of that year's best new TV shows in the process — then you've probably been hanging out for the Aussie rom-com sitcom's second season. The show was unsurprisingly renewed in 2023, and now has an official return date: Thursday, May 30. When it debuted, Colin From Accounts had everyone bingeing their way through this tale of an awkward but memorable meet-cute, which began when a medical student and a microbrewery owner crossed paths in Sydney, ended up with an injured dog between them, then went from strangers to pet co-owners almost instantly. This time, however, the series will be dropping its episodes weekly on Binge instead of in one batch. If you're new to the show, which won Best Narrative Comedy Series at the 2024 AACTAs and a trio of Logies — Most Outstanding Comedy Program, Most Outstanding Actor and Most Outstanding Actress — in 2023, it's the latest collaboration between real-life couple and No Activity stars Harriet Dyer (The Invisible Man) and Patrick Brammall (Evil). Story-wise, the first season of Colin From Accounts charted what happened after Brammall's Gordon was distracted by Dyer's Ashley one otherwise ordinary morning, then accidentally hit a stray dog with his car. The pair took the pooch to receive veterinary treatment, then committed to look after him — and, yes, named him Colin From Accounts — causing their already-messy lives to intertwine. In season two, Ashley and Gordon are living together, which brings its own chaos — including the quest to get Colin From Accounts back from his new owners. A heap of fresh faces are joining the series for its second date, such as Celeste Barber (Wellmania), Virginia Gay (Mother and Son), Justin Rosniak (Wolf Like Me), Lynne Porteous (Frayed) and John Howard (Bump). Season two of Colin From Accounts doesn't yet have a sneak peek, but you can check out the trailer for season one below: Colin From Accounts season two will stream via Binge from Thursday, May 30, 2024. Read our review of season one. Images: Lisa Tomasetti.
How do you solve a problem like the dreaded middle seat, everyone's least-favourite spot to sit on a plane? While Qantas is letting customers pay extra to have no one next to them, Virgin has taken a different approach: hosting a Middle Seat Lottery to encourage passengers to nestle in, with a heap of prizes on offer as incentives. One such reward for slotting into the middle? Limited-edition Virgin bar carts. If you've always wanted your own at home — and, based on how quickly Qantas' fully stocked versions sold when it put them up for grabs during the pandemic's early days, you do — you just have to agree to sit somewhere you usually wouldn't by choice to go in the running. There are four money-can't-buy Virgin bar carts on offer, all with a different theme. These ones don't just come stocked with booze, either, with each hand-refurbished cart filled with goodies focused around either disco, day spas, watching flicks at home and sports. The first cart, which is the prize for whoever wins the lottery for flights between November 14–20, includes a spinning mirror ball, cocktail shaker, Bluetooth speaker and smoke machine. That'd be the disco fever cart, clearly, and it's all shimmery on the outside as well Exactly when the other carts will slot into the Middle Seat Lottery's prize pool hasn't yet been revealed, but they're all similarly packed. The day spa cart comes covered in rattan, and features a robe, eye mask, slippers, aromatherapy diffuser and candles, while the at-home cinema cart includes a customisable cinema-style letter board, a popcorn maker, candy bar and movie projector (and it's upholstered in red velvet). Or, sports fans can enjoy a cart with a removable esky, drinks coolers, a Marshall speaker, an AFL Sherrin and a pop-out basketball hoop. Running since late October until Sunday, April 23, 2023, the Middle Seat Lottery is as self-explanatory as it sounds. Plonk yourself down in the abhorred seat — with a ticket, of course — and you could score goodies for your trouble. The freebies change each week, but there's more than $230,000 in prizes on offer across the six-month competition — only if you either select the middle seat or you're assigned it. As well as the bar carts, those prizes span Caribbean cruises with Virgin Voyages, complete with flights to and from the USA; a helicopter pub crawl in Darwin, again with flights there and back included; and a Cairns adventure package, which covers flights, accommodation, bungy jumping, river rafting and other activities There's also flights and tickets to your AFL team's away games in 2023 — and, still on Aussie rules, an AFL Grand Final package, covering a lunch, tickets to the game, being on the boundary line before the match, merch and an after party. One prize will be given out each week, with 26 prizes in total across the competition's duration. And if your week doesn't coincide with a holiday giveaway, platinum Velocity Frequent Flyer status with one million points is also on the freebies list. An hour or so in a seat you wouldn't normally pick for the chance to win holidays, heaps of footy or frequent flyer points to book more holidays? Worth it, probably. To go in the running to win any of the above, you do need to be a Velocity Frequent Flyer member over the age of 18. And, you'll have to fly somewhere within Australia, on a Virgin Australia-operated domestic flight, during the competition period — in a middle seat, obviously. Also, to enter, you then need to use the Virgin Australia app within 48 hours of your flight's scheduled departure time, tapping on the Middle Seat Lottery tile, finding your flight and entering your details. From there, winners will be drawn each week and contacted if they're successful. Virgin Australia's Middle Seat Lottery runs until Sunday, April 23, 2023. For more information, head to the Virgin website. Images: Carly Ravenhall. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
If you're thinking of heading to Tassie for Dark Mofo this year, this could be the clincher. MONA is hosting its next big exhibition, Zero — a celebration of Germany's radical artists of the 1950s and 60s. The show gets its name from the term the artists used, collectively, to describe themselves. They didn't identify as belonging to a movement, style or group, but instead felt connected by a "vision of the things", as explained by Otto Piene, one of the founders. The show will feature artworks by original Zero artists, as well as those that have since absorbed their influence. These include Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, Günther Uecker and Adolf Luther from Germany; Lucio Fontana, Nanda Vigo, Grazia Varisco, Enrico Castellani and Gianni Colombo from Italy; with Marcel Duchamp, Yves Klein and François Morellet from France; Henk Peeters from The Netherlands; Christian Megert from Switzerland; Jesús Soto from Venezuela; and Yayoi Kusama from Japan. Given that these artworks were often ephemeral, many will be reconstructions. Expect sound effects, music, optical illusions, moving parts, shifting lights and reflective materials. There'll be a particular focus on vibration, which Mack described in 1958 as "resting restlessness…the expression of continuous movement, which we call 'vibration'…Its harmony stirs our souls, as the life and breath of the work." Taking care of curation is Mattijs Visser, founding director of the international Zero Foundation. "Zero is one of the most significant, yet largely forgotten, art movements since the Second World War...Zero needs to be discovered now, while several of their speakers are still with us," he says.
Tim Key is a bad poet. A bad, terrible, awful poet. Or so he would have you think.Key's show, The Slutcracker, is actually a deadpan stand up act masquerading as a sincere piece of performance poetry. A carefully constructed shambolic mess. It begins with him lurching on stage, drinking a can of beer to change into his dishevelled suit in front of the audience and ends with a bare-foot party game. In between he reads his awful (very good) poems, screens his pretentious (funny) art-house movies and bickers (banters) with his off-stage sound man Fletch.The comedy hinges on Key's droll onstage persona â€" like a mix between a very dry Daniel Kitson and a super-pretentious Bill Murray. The show was a smash hit at this year's Edinburgh Fringe where it won the Comedy Award. It’s now on at The Sydney Festival as apart of their ‘About An Hour’ program, which presents hour-long, world standard, Fringe theatre for only $30.https://youtube.com/watch?v=dLjTwh6s53c
The Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s Eternity Playhouse seems perhaps a curious choice for the staging of Vanessa Bates’ new play Every Second. The former Baptist Church, now a 200-seat theatre, is the home to this new play about infertility, IVF and families. Set on a raised spiralling platform designed by Andy McDonell, the production circles around the various topics, elliptically and directly, confronting them from various angles and various positions. Based on Bates’ own experiences, Every Second is characterised by the playwright's trademark warmth and good humour, her direct dialogue which scintillates as it hits us with its emotional punch, and a healthy dose of grace and heart. A kind of ballet for two couples, the play follows Meg (Julia Ohannessian) and Tim (Simon Corfield) as they try to conceive a child naturally (with the help of various herbal concoctions and a strict diet). Set against their story is that of Bill (Glenn Hazeldine) and Jen (Georgina Symes), a somewhat older couple who take the IVF option, in all its humiliating and invasive glory. As each woman’s fertility cycle rolls around, so too do the tensions between the couples, until a series of undignified experiences makes them reconsider everything. Directed by Shannon Murphy, Every Second has a bold directness and a mischievousness that dances through the play’s 90-minute duration. To Murphy's and Bates’ credit, they are not afraid of going to the potentially confronting corners of the topic, and although they are largely played for the humour inherent in the physical on-stage 'reality' or for their pathos, we sometimes get more than we bargained for. A particular highlight is the ballet which forms the play’s centre point, and features the cast in variations of body-hugging clothing, protective headgear and outrageous antics. Murphy’s cast are all strong, from Hazeldine’s loving and eager-to-please Bill and Symes’ stoic and long-suffering Jen to Ohannessian’s headstrong and endlessly optimistic Meg and Corfield’s reluctant and hesitantly obliging Tim, whose plight we discover late on in the piece. Dressed in Rita Carmody’s functional and simple costumes, lit with warmth and mood by Verity Hampson, and featuring Tiernan Cross’s simple and melodic music, Murphy’s production is assured, considered and allows this new play to shine and breathe. Some scenes seem slightly overwritten, a case of saying too much when we don’t know what to say, but if anything it highlights the truth that lies at the heart of Bates’ play — how do you keep it all together emotionally when you can’t have what you’ve always thought you’d have? Ultimately, Every Second is a wry and witty comedy about relationships, looking out for each other and swimming upstream in the face of all the odds.
Since 2006, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) has been running initiatives in Greater Western Sydney to inject art into communities and businesses across the region of Sydney, all as part of C3West. This year's project is Being Together: Parramatta Yearbook, a large-scale photography installation that has popped up in Centenary Square until Monday, October 3. The exhibition sees the people, communities and stories of Parramatta surveyed through the portraiture photography of Cherine Fahd. Located on Dharug Country, Sydney's second city plays home to a rich and diverse kaleidoscope of residents and workers, with the area currently experiencing unprecedented urban development while also maintaining its place as an important cultural and culinary hub. The project captures hundreds of people, from Parramatta mainstays and local families through to unsung heroes of the area and passersby. Fahd's subjects were photographed through pop-up portrait studios set up between November 2021–July 2022 in bustling Parramatta locations including construction sites, Centenary Square and CommBank Stadium. Throughout the photos, you'll also find interactions between Fahd and the sitters, imparting a sense of authenticity and intimacy to the shots. "The Yearbook is a record of a people and a place at a particular time. The time is COVID-19, the place is the City of Parramatta," Fahd said. "While people stirred within the city of Parramatta's numerous construction projects, with new buildings emerging and not so old ones dissolving, local people came willing to talk and pose against the backdrop of scaffolds, cranes and abseiling window cleaners. Parramatta Yearbook shows you the moments leading up to, during and after a portrait is made. An assortment of cut-up images, bright colours and kindergarten shapes reveal the outtakes and minutiae." The exhibition is free to view in Centenary Square, and there will be a range of free events taking place during its two-month run. An opening ceremony will take place from 11am–12pm on Saturday, August 13. On Saturday, September 17, a Parramatta Yearbook photo walk will leave from Centenary Square at 3pm, taking participants on a tour of the suburb — registration is essential for this event with spaces on the walk limited. And, at 11am on on Saturday, October 1, a physical iteration of the yearbook will be unveiled with limited free copies available to take home. Images: Cherine Fahd, Being Together: Parramatta Yearbook(2021–2022), produced and presented by C3West on behalf of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in partnership with Parramatta Artists' Studios, an initiative of the City of Parramatta. Photo courtesy and © the artist.
Sydney is arguably the sporting capital of Australia. It’s where the Socceroos won the Asian Cup last year, it’s the home of rugby league in Australia and who could forget that John Aloisi penalty at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium against Uruguay to take us to the World Cup? This February, Sydney's the centre of global sport action once again, with the Harbour city’s debut Rugby 7s event, Sydney 7s. Not across the Rugby 7s? This isn’t your average game of rugby. If you’re familiar with rugby union, then you’ve got a good head start, but don’t fret if you’ve forgotten everything that punter at the pub told you during last year’s World Cup — or if you have no knowledge whatsoever of the sport. We’re going to start from scratch, compare the two where necessary and get you up-to-speed so you can act like quite the expert come game day. So here’s seven things you need to know for the Sydney 7s, arriving on February 6 and 7. THE RULES As you might have guessed, the number seven is pretty fundamental to the whole shebang. Let's break it down: There are two seven-a-side teams — consisting of three forwards and four backs. They'll play a 14-minute match made up of two seven-minute halves on a full-size Rugby Union field. Players can only pass the ball backwards or kick the ball to move downfield, with the aim of the game being to get over the opposition’s tryline at the other end of the field. Do this and you score a try, worth five points. After every try, the scoring team attempts a drop kick conversion through the uprights to earn two more points — totalling seven points for a converted try. Teams can also score three points with a drop goal or a penalty kicked between the goalposts. After each score, the scoring team kicks off to the opposition to make sure the other team has an equal opportunity to return serve. Penalties result in either a scrum or kick for goal, depending on the offence committed. Scrums consist of three forwards versus another three. The scrum half feeds the ball into the channel between the interlocked forwards and retrieves the ball from the back of the scrum and play continues. If the ball goes out of bounds then a lineout occurs. Lineouts take place between two or three players and a player throws the ball back in to play. Finally, each team is only allowed to make three substitutions during the course of the game out of their five available reserves. If you’re familiar with the rules of rugby, you can see that 7s borrows a lot from the game played in heaven but adds its own laws that serve one purpose: to keep the game fast and free flowing. IT’S FAST AND FUN Rugby 7s is all about entertainment. With only seven players defending a full size field, side steppers, speed merchants and fitness freaks tear down the field and punish the slightest gap in a defence. The game is designed to allow scoring and demands it happens quickly. In fact, Sevens sees a try scored roughly every 70 seconds. Also, with matches being only 15 minutes in duration, you’ll see over 20 games on each day of the Sydney 7s. We’ve done the math and you’ll see around 240 tries on each day of the tournament! That is some serious bang for your buck. Plus you’ll get to see some of the fastest athletes in the world like Carlin Isles of the United States, who runs 100m in 10.13 seconds. Check out his highlights above. One thing's for sure, you won’t be caught twiddling your thumbs at the Sydney 7s. EVERYONE DRESSES UP Whilst there is plenty of action on the field, there’s just as much for you to do off it. For you see, 7s is a global party famous for its mix of party and rugby action. And like all good parties, there’s a fancy dress theme. Sydney 7s’ theme: 'go global'. To celebrate the international flavour of 7s, get into the spirit and dress as your favourite nation, no matter whether they are competing or not. Pull out your kilts or your Statue of Liberty costume but if you feel that’s too much, you can always wear your country’s jersey. Make sure you wear something comfortable to dance around in though as there’s live music each night. Saturday sees The Veronicas perform live before The Hoodoo Gurus bust out their classics on the Sunday. Forgotten about The Veronicas? How could you, they’re 4ever. [caption id="attachment_556948" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Alistairjh, Wikicommons.[/caption] IT'S NOT YOUR REGULAR RUGBY CAST One of the great things about 7s that contributes to the sport being such a worldwide phenomenon is that it doesn’t feature your regular cast of rugby heavyweights. I mean sure, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and England feature. But there’s also Kenya, Portugal and the United States of America. Joining these seven nations in Sydney are the current world champions Fiji, alongside Argentina, Canada, Fiji, France, Japan, Russia, Samoa, Scotland and Wales. Importantly, Australia and England have never had their hands on the World Series trophy (there's a lovely little fact that'll really piss off hardcore Aussie and UK supporters, use at your own peril). So why are Kenya suited to playing 7s when you never hear about them in rugby union spheres? Well remember, 7s is tailor made for fit and speedy athletes. If you get a bit of open space to run into, well, just look at the winners of most long-distance events at the Olympics and you’ll understand why Kenya are involved in 7s. [caption id="attachment_556949" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: Jesús Gorriti, Wikicommons.[/caption] SEVENS IS AN OLYMPIC SPORT IN 2016 That’s right, 7s is heading to Rio for both men and women and with the Olympics just over six months away, Sydney 7s has become an audition to become an Olympian, with all but one of the qualified nations playing in this tournament. This Olympic carrot has been crucial for the growth of the sport, with a 120 percent increase in global rugby participation since 2009 (when the IOC announced it was returning as an Olympic sport). This rise in competition for spots has resulted in the skills skyrocketing and also attracted some of the big names of world rugby — Sonny Bill Williams has signed on for 2016 and already claimed that it’s the toughest training he’s ever undertaken. THE PLAYERS NEVER SAY DIE With an average of just 70 seconds between each try, you can’t turn away from the field for a second. For example, in 2013 with three minutes to go in the match, the United States led New Zealand 19-5. The All Blacks then marched down the field three times for three converted tries inside three minutes, scoring after the siren to overrun the US and win 26-19. They were incredible scenes and hopefully they’re replicated a few times across the Sydney 7s tournament. THE LOGISTICS Sydney 7s will light up Allianz Stadium, Moore Park on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7. Tickets are available on the official website in one- or two-day packages. Check out the schedule for each day and pick how much party you want across the weekend. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours soon else you’ll miss out. See you at the 7s!
Who made the rule that Valentine's Day was just for pairs, couples and duos? You can turf that old-school thinking out the window, because we're here in 2023, happy in the knowledge that love comes in all shapes and sizes. And this year, the QT hotel chain is embracing that notion with an inclusive Valentine's Day celebration that's best enjoyed in a crew of three. On Tuesday, February 14, the brand's sites around the country — in Melbourne, plus also Sydney, Bondi, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and Perth — are paying special homage to the throuples and trios out there in lovers' land with a one-night-only You, Plus Two package. While venues across the nation will likely be brimming with tables for two, these hotels will be celebrating three as the magic number. The details vary slightly in different cities, but the first step is the same: book a table for three at a resident QT restaurant (or, for QT Bondi, at North Bondi Fish). Do so at Gowings at QT Sydney, Pascale at QT Melbourne, Capitol Grill at QT Canberra, Jana Restaurant at QT Newcastle and Santini Grill at QT Perth that evening and you'll enjoy a little extra love in the form of the venue's Aphrodisiac Hour offering. That's half a dozen oysters and three mini vodka martinis on the house, all to kick off your date night right. At Yamagen at QT Gold Coast, you'll receive the half-dozen oysters for Aphrodisiac Hour. And at North Bondi Fish, you won't score any free bites, but you will go in the running for a giveaway that's running everywhere. That competition? All tables of three at each venue on the night will be in with a shot at being crowned the Throuple in Residence for that QT hotel. If you win at whichever QT spot you're at (or North Bondi Fish for QT Bondi), you'll be invited to keep the loved-up festivities going with a private hotel room, complete with robes, pillows and all the cushy amenities you could hope for. QT's You, Plus Two package is available for all tables of three booked for Tuesday, February 14, with slightly different deals at different hotels. Secure your spot online.
Red Eye Records is indisputably a landmark destination for any music fan. This legendary music store oepend in 1981 and is now Sydney's largest independent music retailer. The York Street location is a haven for lovers of vinyl. You'll be able to find new tunes as well as older ones here, on a variety of modern and outmoded mediums. Red Eye revels in being able to track down rare records and other items for its customers, and the staff are music experts and are stoked to share their knowledge with you. Regardless of what you're after, you'll be sure to find a world of musical and memorabilia gold. Images: Arvin Prem Kumar
Fries, mash, rösti, gnocchi, dauphinois — has ever a vegetable been as universal, as chameleonic in its deliciousness as the potato? Considering that you can't even eat one of these guys raw, it's amazing what the humble spud can do when it's given a tiny bit of love. That's why the Ballarat Potato Festival is such a draw. On for one day only this winter, the festival features some of the Ballarat foodie scene's best eateries, each putting their own spin on local taters pulled from nearby farms. Considering this is one of Victoria's main potato-producing regions, there'll be no shortage of material to go around. The festival will certainly be your main, if not only opportunity this year to try twice-cooked potato halwa. Other tastebud-tickling delights on the menu incluce potato pancakes, savoury spiced potato doughnuts and potato-stuffed naan bread. Traditionalists will not be left disappointed, either — if chips and gravy is your truest heart's desire, no one will stand in the way. Discover all the Potato Festival stalls with just a gold-coin donation for entry on Saturday, 30 June, at the Ballarat Mining Exchange. The event is part of the Ballarat Winter Festival, so once you've had your fill of potato knishes and knödels, you can head out and explore the Winter Wonderlights in Sovereign Hill (think White Night meets Christmas in July), jump on the pop-up ice-skating rink or contemplate Into Light, the exhibition of 19th- and 20th-century Parisian painting at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Come back in July if you want to get in on more foodie events that celebrate the region, like the Salumi and Charcuterie Festival on July 21 or the Red Series back at the Ballarat Mining Exchange on July 28. To prep for the trip and discover more things to do in winter around Ballarat, visit the Wander Victoria website.
2025 is a shaping up to be a big year for Netflix finales — and it will end that way, too. First, Squid Game is coming to a conclusion in June 2025. Then, Stranger Things will begin following suit with its fifth and last season. You'll be tuning in not once, not twice, but three times for this farewell trip to Hawkins, Indiana, however — starting in November 2025, then checking in again twice in December this year. Those specific dates: Wednesday, November 26 for the first four-episode volume of season five, then Thursday, December 25 for its second three-chapter volume, followed by Wednesday, December 31 for the finale. Netflix locked in the release schedule as part of a date-announcement video which also provides an initial glimpse at how everything will wrap up. Included in the clip: looks backwards at the tale that Stranger Things has told so far, which means peering at how young the cast was when the show premiered in 2016. From what's to come, comas, bedside vigils, the military, exploring via torchlight, shaking floors and a key piece of advice — "run" — all feature. Season five makes finding and killing Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower, Emmanuelle) its main aim, all while the town has been placed under quarantine and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown, The Electric State) has been forced into hiding We know already that the year is 1987 and the time is autumn, jumping forward from the fourth season's spring 1986 timing. We're also aware that one way or another, the residents of Hawkins that viewers know and love will have their last experience with the eeriness that's been plaguing their town for years. That's the promise that accompanies saying goodbye to Stranger Things, of course, even if the hit Netflix show's end won't be it for the franchise's broader universe. If it feels like there's been a lengthy wait for more — even with the series no stranger to long delays between seasons — that's because there has been. When November rolls around, it will have been almost three-and-a-half years since season four, a gap extended due to 2023's Hollywood strikes. Before that, just under three years elapsed between seasons three and four, and just under two between the second and third seasons. The 13-month gap between seasons one and two seems positively short, then. Late in 2024, Netflix revealed the titles of Stranger Things' eight season-five episodes. If you feel like obsessing over the monikers for clues, you've had eight hints for a while, then. The season will kick off with 'The Crawl', then deliver 'The Vanishing of ...', 'The Turnbow Trap' and 'Sorcerer'. Next comes 'Shock Jock', 'Escape From Camazotz' and 'The Bridge', before it all ends with the enticingly named 'The Rightside Up'. Fans also already know that this season features Terminator franchise icon Linda Hamilton, jumping from one sci-fi hit to another. Season five brings back all of the usual faces, too — so, alongside Brown and Bower, Winona Ryder (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), David Harbour (Thunderbolts*), Finn Wolfhard (Saturday Night), Gaten Matarazzo (Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain), Caleb McLaughlin (The Deliverance), Noah Schnapp (The Tutor), Sadie Sink (O'Dessa), Natalia Dyer (All Fun and Games), Charlie Heaton (The Souvenir: Part II), Joe Keery (Fargo), Maya Hawke (Inside Out 2), Priah Ferguson (The Curse of Bridge Hollow), Brett Gelman (Lady in the Lake) and Cara Buono (Things Like This). As for more Stranger Things-related antics after season five, when creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that their sci-fi show was working towards its endgame back in 2022, they also said that they had more stories to tell in this fictional realm. Instantly, we all knew what that meant. Netflix doesn't like letting go of its hits easily, after all, so the quest to find a way to keep wandering through this franchise was about as surprising as Jim Hopper's (Harbour) usual gruff mood. Check out the date-announcement video for Stranger Things season five below: Stranger Things season five will arrive in three parts, on Wednesday, November 26, Thursday, December 25 and Wednesday, December 31, 2025. You can stream the first four seasons now via Netflix — and read our review of season four. Images: Netflix.
The words "indie pop" have in many circles become synonymous with hipster pretentiousness. Last Dinosaurs ain't that kind of indie pop. Coupled with their taste for button-up shirts and primary coloured jeans, the Brisbane quartet have taken the template supplied by such indie darlings as Vampire Weekend and Bombay Bicycle Club, cranked up the guitar histrionics and added some shout-along choruses plus a bunch of irresistibly funky, off-kilter grooves to give us a sound that has had critics salivating and brought them sold-out concerts across Australia and Europe. Then of course there is the Brisbane quartet's insatiable taste for causing havoc on stage. The boys' growing reputation for putting on unforgettable, dance-till-your-feet-hurt shows has set them apart from the glut of indie pop outfits that seem to clog every other bar and venue in Sydney. In honour of their debut album In A Million Years celebrating its first birthday this month - an album that The Guardian described as a "possible contender" for best Australian album to reach British shores in the last twenty years - Last Dinosaurs are bringing their guitar-powered pop to UNSW's Roundhouse. Book online before tickets become extinct. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EqGs36oPpLQ
Christmas barely seems behind us, but it's time to start thinking about Easter already. And while there are many ways to mark the occasion, only one involves paying tribute to a cinema star like no other — and also playing mini golf in a cinema. Between Thursday, April 1–Sunday, April 4, the Ritz Cinema in Randwick is hosting Adam Sandler Fest. Although it kicks off on April Fools' Day, it definitely isn't a joke. You will be laughing at Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer, though, and getting considerably more serious with Punch-Drunk Love. Rounding out the bill is the phenomenal Uncut Gems, Sandler's best-ever on-screen role, which'll be hitting the big screen in Australia for the first time — and, unlike everything else on the program, will be showing multiple times. While the whole festival is obviously filled with highlights, the 25th anniversary session of Happy Gilmore will include a putt putt contest before the movie. Yep, you'll be tap, tap, tapping, with prizes on offer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTfJp2Ts9X8
Imagine carrying home five grocery bags heaving with fresh, shiny fruits and vegetables, then picking up one bag, walking to the bin, and throwing it in. Startling isn't it? That's exactly what the average Aussie household discards on a regular basis — one out of every five bags of grocery we buy — and it's contributing to the 800,000 tonnes of food thrown out by Australian householders each year. So why are we doing it? One of the main culprits cited by food conservationists is our urban, time-poor lifestyle. We go grocery shopping on a Monday with dreams of becoming the next Nigella but by Friday we morph into Matt Prestons, wanting to eat our way through an array of diners regardless of what's fermenting in the fridge. Think our favourite restaurants are doing a better job at conserving food? Think again. With our fickle appetite for food trends, our local eateries have been known to toss out an estimated 340,000 tonnes of food annually. But swearing off your favourite nosh pit for life isn't only improbable — can you really go without your favourite pad thai or your sticky pork-rib Friday night food staple? — it might not necessarily be the answer. A sustainable table movement has been quietly sweeping the state, with some organisations — from food rescue groups like OzHarvest to restaurants that specialise in using seasonal, local produce like Sydney's Cornersmith — showing that today's funnily shaped fruit and veg could be tomorrow's gourmet offering. According to Cornersmith's owner and 'chief pickler' Alex Elliott-Howery, fruit and veg that's gone past its official use by date, or that doesn't always match an aesthetic ideal, is often best for cooking. "We have a very close relationship with imperfect fruit and vegetables at Cornersmith," he says. "By imperfect I don't mean rotten. So many vegetables and fruits that don't look like they come from a plastic mould get thrown away when in fact they are delicious and there are millions of ways to use them. "[For example] we make pickles out of bendy cucumbers; chutney, sauces, and compotes for our milk shakes out of very ripe fruits; pesto out of basil leaves that may be slightly affected by weather conditions or insects." In fact, Cornersmith takes food wastage so seriously there's a zero-tolerance approach that underpins every aspect of the business. From the small, seasonally oriented menu, which ensures key ingredients are used across several dishes, to the on-site food composting, rooftop beehive, and Monday 'preserving day', food wastage loathers can take a leaf out Cornersmith's book. "We just got a whole lot of lemons that are too 'ugly' for the grower to sell at the markets but are delicious, so we're using them for juicing, jam making, and dressings," says Alex. Similarly, Glebe diner Two Peas, launched by former Jamie's Italian alumni Nick Johnson and Tom Stoneham, has a "through-the-line" approach to sustainable and ethical dining with the goal of not only minimising food wastage but also decreasing the resource intensive paddock-to-plate process. "People don't often think about where their food comes from and the resources involved in getting it to their plate," says Tom. "Take something as simple as the wine you're drinking, people from NSW love wines from other regions. Although there's nothing wrong with that, there are often hidden costs involved in transporting it from cellar to tabletop. We're very conscious of that at Two Peas; in fact, everything we use is grown in Australian and sourced from local suppliers wherever possible." But where other eateries may stop at the produce, Two Peas goes even further in its holistic approach to sustainable dining. "Our tablecloths, napkins, and takeaway containers are made from recycled materials, whilst our menus, which we print ourselves, are made from post-consumer recycled material." With our love affair with food showing no signs of abating (just look at the recent glut of prime-time cooking shows), how can savvy diners get on the sustainable food train? According to Tom, education and awareness are the key, as well as an open mind. "Start by looking at what produce is in season and seeing if this is reflected in what's being offered at the restaurants you visit. For example, if you see asparagus on the menu and it's not in season, you can be sure it's been sourced from overseas. It's also a good idea to try something new, rather than sticking with your favourite dish, because it's a great way of showing support for seasonally designed menus." With a menu based around reusing excess food, the Cornersmith chefs don't just practice what they preach; they take an active role in educating the community as well. "We are starting our pickling and preserving classes and sustainable food workshops in April of this year," says Alex. "We figure that teaching people how to deal with their excess produce will help to stop food waste in the community." All images (except top) from Cornersmith's Instagram.
Booking a trip has changed significantly over the last few decades — just 40 years ago, the only way to book a flight, really, was through a travel agent. It wasn't until the early '90s that travellers could take the reins and actually book a ticket for themselves online. Thankfully, we have progressed. Gloriously. Travelling is only getting easier due to the evolution of highly useful, intuitive apps. These ten currently available apps will make your travels that much smoother. And the better news? None of them cost a cent. FOR HEALTH MATTERS: TRAVWELL Let's be real. Health is an easy thing to take for granted while travelling. Powered by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, TravWell brings a great sense of calmness to travellers going overseas. We suggest downloading this well before departing. Users can select the destination they are travelling to, and the app will list which vaccines and medications to take. TravWell also has space to store photos and organise documents such as vaccine records. Plus, for every destination that the app covers, there are corresponding emergency services phone numbers on hand. FOR CONVERTING CASH: CURRENCY CONVERTER PLUS This app is one of the most popular out there, drawing over one million downloads worldwide. Currency Converter Plus hosts 191 currencies and regularly updates conversion rates. When you don't have access to Wi-Fi in that Moroccan souk or Beijing market, the app's ability to work offline definitely comes in handy. It can also convert currency to gold, silver and platinum, perfect if you're indulging in a cheeky jewellery shop during your stopover in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The calculator function is what separates this app from the rest. Say your Vietnamese feast in Hanoi costs 200,000VND, and you have $5US dollars you want to use — enter both into the app and it will calculate and convert simultaneously, saving you the brainwork. FOR OFFLINE MAPS: MAPS.ME As much as we'd like to assume that our orientation skills are on point, sometimes we get it wrong. Really wrong. And you end up six kilometres away from your hotel, in the dodgy depths of a city with no idea how to get back. MAPS.ME, to the rescue. The app is trusted by over 65 million travellers, probably because it's usable offline. Simply download the map of the country or city you are visiting (when you have internet connection), and it's there for good. Within the app, users can search for restaurants, attractions, ATMs and public transport. We're not done. MAPS.ME also gives people the option to book accommodation through Booking.com. Alternatively, you can't go wrong with offline Google Maps. FOR EDITING HOLIDAY SNAPS: SNAPSEED There's an inordinate number of photo editing apps out there. A lifetime could be devoted looking for the best. Let us save you a little bit of that time. Snapseed, which was created by Google, is not only ridiculously easy to use, but also fun. It has 26 tools and editing features including the ability to adjust exposure, contrast, saturation, ambiance, fix skewed lines, alter perspectives, heal areas of a photo, add in text and throw on a filter. And when you're all finished playing around, Snapseed provides the option to upload to your edited masterpiece straight to Instagram. FOR CONQUERING LANGUAGE BARRIERS: GOOGLE TRANSLATE Speaking of Google (again), it's insanely hard to beat Google Translate at its game. The app offers the most languages out of any single translation engine out there — a mere 103. Now, translating words, phrases and sentences is one thing, but pronouncing them is another. Users can listen to translations before attempting and potentially embarrassing themselves. The app has evolved dramatically since its birth, now integrating a photo feature where you can hold your camera up to a text while Google magically translates it, given the font is readable. The fairy godmother of translators, we're naming it. FOR GROUP TRIPS: SPLITWISE Travelling with friends can get tricky money-wise, no matter how much you try to prevent it. Attempting to recall who shouted what at NYC's Please Don't Tell and how much that friend owes you for dinner at Hong Kong's Ho Lee Fook is too much to keep track of sometimes. Splitwise is a simple way to share bills, and keep track of what everyone has paid. Each person creates an account, and from there groups can be formed. Users then log in to see their balance, what is owed to them and what they owe to others. FOR AIRPORT RELAXATION: LOUNGEKEY LoungeKey is the ultimate airport lounge library. After entering an airport or city name into the app, a list of lounges on offer comes up. LoungeKey details exactly where lounges are located in an airport (don't laugh, some are harder to find that you would assume), what facilities are included, and provides photos, trading hours and prices. There is also a 'nearby' function for when you are absolutely exhausted and just want to pop into the closest lounge. FOR EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS: GUIDES BY LONELY PLANET There's a lot of noise when it comes to travel guides and recommendations, but among all the madness is Lonely Planet — one of the most trustworthy and inspiring names out there. The Guides app incorporates advice from local experts, including must-see sights and essential tips for each location. There's also an offline maps function, language phrasebooks and a currency converter. It's an all-in-one app, currently covering 100 cities, with more to come. FOR CONNECTIVITY: FREE WI-FI FINDER If you don't fancy buying a sim card in every country you visit, and therefore heavily rely on finding a Wi-Fi connection, this one's a winner. Free Wi-Fi Finder promises exactly what's in its title —free Wi-Fi connection spots, with absolutely no charges. The app lists locations in over 50 countries. You can search by state and city, or locate the closest to wherever you find yourself at that point in time. The app also gives users the option to list Wi-Fi spots themselves and assist other travellers. People-powered, we like that. FOR FINDING THINGS TO DO: AIRBNB (FOR THE 'EXPERIENCES' FUNCTION) Airbnb continues its rampage of revolutionising the travel industry. The app hosts a plethora of affordable accommodation options — apartments, cabins, igloos and beyond — opening up a world of travel to those who were unable to access it before. In late 2016, the app took things up a notch, launching Airbnb 'experiences'. These are curated events, tours, classes and workshops created by local guides, inspiring people not just to travel to a place, but immerse themselves in it. Experiences span from two-day food tours in Seoul, three-day salsa camps in Havana or cocktail-making classes in San Francisco.
This week, the Gillard Government announced their long-awaited arts and cultural policy: Creative Australia. Fashioned as a sort of 21st-century sequel to Keating's groundbreaking Creative Nation, the $235 million policy is perhaps the most comprehensive and wide-ranging articulation of and investment in the arts ever seen in Australia. And thus far the policy has been met with the sort of response that the Gillard Government has grown increasingly unaccustomed to: overwhelming support. But what does Creative Australia actually have to offer? The 152-page policy takes real steps to reflect the artistic diversity of Australia through major investments in Aboriginal art and international artistic partnerships, particularly in Asia. It also demonstrates the government's desire to support the cultural industry as exactly that: an industry. By putting money in the pockets of artists and cultural institutions, the government is hoping to create jobs and expand an industry that currently employs over 531,000 people and has produced an estimated $93.2 billion in profits. Having ploughed through pages of the usual PR guff, it has been a pleasant surprise to find that Creative Australia actually has the potential to radically expand and reform Australia's cultural industry. As the policy states, "culture is not created by government but enabled by it", and while this statement has a distinctly hollow political ring to it, it is a surprisingly accurate way of describing how these four features of Creative Australia could revamp our artistic landscape. A GREATER FOCUS ON ASIA A couple of generations ago, depending on who you speak to, Australians began celebrating and/or bemoaning the invasion of American culture into our own artistic landscape. These days, Asia is the new kid on the block, and the Australian government are hoping to capitalise on Asia’s growing cultural dominance through the creation and strengthening of various formal and informal artistic partnerships with the region. In the world of cinema, this means more co-production agreements between Australian and Asian filmmakers. Such partnerships with Singapore have already produced the Jaws-esque horror blockbuster Bait 3D (which reached number one at the box office in China) and the forthcoming TV project Serangoon Road, which is set to air on the ABC and Home Box Office Asia later this year. In the world of visual art, this means the introduction of new legislation protecting overseas loans, such that more Japanese and Chinese art will be popping up in your local gallery in exchange for Australian artworks gaining greater exposure in Asian galleries. SUPPORTING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION Australia's most neglected (yet highest grossing) digital artform is finally getting the sort of government attention it most richly deserves: video games. The newly formed Australian Interactive Games Fund is set to receive $20 million over the next three years in an effort to support Australia's independent games studios in the creation of digital content. Digital media has likewise radicalised the way we consume music, films and television and the Creative Australia policy reflects this converging cultural market. The Federal Government has outlined a variety of policy initiatives including the creation of an online production fund, a $10 million investment to support the production of screen and television suitable for digital platforms, a $5.4 million investment into Australian music and radio and a comprehensive review of Australia's copyright laws to determine whether they appropriately reflect Australia's digital media landscape. INCREASED FUNDING FOR SIX PERFORMING ARTS COMPANIES A central component of the Creative Australia policy has been to support artistic institutions that tell distinctly Australian stories. While once upon a time, the term 'Australian stories' was synonymous with ocker comedies and gross stereotypes of the Crocodile Dundee and Barry McKenzie variety, the term has now come to represent a multiplicity of experiences that have a uniquely Australian character. The Federal Government have invested $9.3 million in six performing arts companies who by their estimations have developed a reputation for telling meaningful Australian stories, whether this be through original productions or contemporary reinterpretations of classics. The six companies are Bangarra Dance Theatre (NSW), Belvoir (Company B) (NSW), Black Swan State Theatre Company (WA), Malthouse Theatre (Vic), Circus Oz (Vic) and West Australian Ballet (WA). This funding has the potential to transform these often small, boutique performing arts companies into world-beating artistic hubs. FURTHER JOB CREATION IN THE ARTS Creating jobs in the cultural industry takes one primary form in the Creative Australia policy: nurturing and capturing talent through investment in educational institutes. This investment isn't just for elite training organisations, though the government is pumping an extra $20.8 million into these institutions, but also for younger budding artists and performers. Particularly notable is the investment of $8.1 million into the Creative Young Stars Program, encouraging artists from primary school age to those in their early twenties to roll up their sleeves and get stuck into the arts. The Gillard government have also recognised the increasing difficultly faced by artists and performers in transitioning from tertiary education into the workforce. This is seen in the $9.7 million investment into ArtStart, which focuses on making artists more business-savvy in the dog-eat-dog world of art and the $3.4 million given to the ArtsReady program to support school and university graduates transform their love of art, music, dance, performance or drama into a fulltime profession.
At the state's daily COVID-19 press conference on Saturday, August 14, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced two significant pieces of news: that NSW has recorded 466 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, and that a number of tighter lockdown restrictions will be put in place. Effective Monday, August 16, stay-at-home orders will be amended to implement stricter conditions around leaving the house, leaving the region and having singles bubbles. Bigger fines will also apply to folks breaching those rules. Since the end of July — more than a month into Greater Sydney's now seven-week-long lockdown — people in the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions have only been able to travel ten kilometres from their homes to go shopping. That distance requirement has applied to exercising for this entire lockdown, too; however, it'll now be reduced to five kilometres across the board if you're heading outside of your own Local Government Area to shop or exercise. If that sounds familiar, that's because that shorter radius is already in effect in 12 parts of the city deemed LGAs of concern. Those areas must still stick to a strict five-kilometre zone, even within their LGA. And, if you're living in a hotspot LGA and you're leaving your house for exercise, you really must be working up a sweat. The health orders are being tightened around the word 'recreation' so that "exercise means exercise", the Premier said. NSW recorded 466 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/upkDjjj6YO — NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 14, 2021 Also changing come Monday: the rules regarding leaving the lockdown area to go into regional NSW, even for allowed purposes. You'll have to get a permit to make the trip, regardless of whether you're considered an authorised worker, you're inspecting real estate or you're travelling to a second home. At present, several regional areas in NSW are also under lockdown — including in Byron Bay and Northern Rivers, Armidale, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook, Cessnock, Dubbo, Tamworth, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett and Warren — due to cases spreading from Greater Sydney. And, specific to the parts of Greater Sydney dubbed LGAs of concern — which currently spans the Bayside, Strathfield, Burwood, Parramatta, Georges River, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Blacktown and Cumberland LGAs, and in 12 suburbs in the Penrith LGA — the singles bubble rules are changing as well. You'll now need to officially register with the authorities to note who your singles bubble buddy is. No matter where you live, your singles bubbly buddy will also need to reside within five kilometres of you, too. In what's being called 'Operation Stay At Home' by NSW Police, new fines will come into effect from 12.01am on Monday, August 16 as well, increasing the state's lockdown enforcement mechanisms. There'll be $5000 on-the-spot fines for quarantine breaches (an increase from $1000), and $5000 on-the-spot fines for lying to a contact tracer (which is already a criminal offence). You'll also get a $3000 on-the-spot fine for breaching the two-person exercise rule in any way, and the same amount will apply for flouting the rules regarding visiting regional NSW from Greater Sydney. Obviously, all the current overarching stay-at-home restrictions also remain in place. So, as has been the case since late June, everyone can still only leave the house for four specific essential reasons: to work and study if you can't do it from home; for essential shopping; for exercise outdoors; and for compassionate reasons, which includes medical treatment, getting a COVID-19 test and getting vaccinated. Visitors aren't permitted, and masks are required when you're out of the house. Also, only businesses deemed "critical retail" are permitted to remain open. If you need supplies, only one person from each household can go out shopping each day to buy essential items — and browsing is prohibited, too. Carpooling is still off the cards, unless you're in a vehicle with members of your own household. And, you can still only exercise in groups of two outdoors — or as a household. Announcing the new changes to lockdown rules, the Premier noted that "what we ask our citizens to do has been the most difficult decision of my life, and the most difficult decision our government will ever have to make. But it is to keep our community safe. I appreciate the community also understands the changing nature of the Delta strain and our ability to move with it and get in front of it. The case numbers overnight are quite concerning — extremely concerning — and we cannot see this trend continue. And while the vast majority of people are doing the right thing, too many are not and that will have devastating consequences because the Delta variant leaves no room for error." Speaking about what will be in store for Greater Sydney in the coming months, the Premier also advised that "I want to foreshadow the most difficult thing for us as a team in New South Wales, for us as citizens of our state, will be living through September and October and keeping everybody safe." Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour remain in lockdown until at least 12.01am on Saturday, August 28, with new lockdown rules coming into effect from 12.01am on Monday, August 16. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Step aside wine. One of the most exciting movements in the Australian booze scene is the wealth of locally-produced spirits that combine world-class product and craft with indelible branding. Melbourne distillery The Gospel was recently anointed the second best rye whisky in the world, and the Yarra Valley's Four Pillars Gin has repeatedly been awarded in international competitions and rankings since its inception in 2013. Now there's a new Australian-made and -owned gin entrant in the mix that's quietly launching into the local market courtesy of a group of gin-loving founders. It's called Papa Salt Coastal Gin and the founders behind the drop are Tom Ackerley Charlie Maas, Josey McNamara, Regan Riskas and Margot Robbie. Yes, that Margot Robbie. We caught up with the group to discuss the origin story of Papa Salt, their collaboration with Lord Byron Distillery to create the product, and being a collective of gin lords. Firstly: tell us a bit about the relationship between the five of you and how you decided to start a business together? "Regan and Margot worked on a film together in 2015, and we all became friends as we bounced back and forth between LA and London in the years since. Sometime around 2018, Josey, Tom, and Margot started to consider creating a gin brand, and they knew that Charlie and his family were in the spirits industry. The five of us had a few very loose discussions about what it might look like to work together, and a lot of very detailed conversations about our favourite gins. It was clear very early on that we all had a passion for the category; that passion really defines our entire business strategy. We spent five years creating a gin that we wanted to drink; and only now are we trying to turn that into a business." Secondly: why gin? "The simple answer is that we all love to drink gin. Digging deeper, that's probably a credit to the category itself; there's so much variety in gin now that there's always something new to try, or an exciting new cocktail or taste profile for a specific use case. As a consumer, the versatility of gin is so exciting. As a brand producer, that means you can really experiment and try to create something unique to your taste. We love the idyllic notion of a perfect beach day, and when we conveyed that to our distiller he suggested that we try using oyster shell in the botanical mix. Not only did that provide a minerality that we really love in the taste, it's also something that's only possible in a gin." How did you end up working with Lord Byron Distillery to create the gin? "We reached out to just about every distillery you could imagine in Australia, and created a short list of options. Lord Byron Distillery stood out for their sustainability mission: they're a zero waste, entirely renewably powered facility." How involved were each of you with the development of the product and the brand? Is there one of you who is the true gin lord of the group? "Who is the true gin lord?! What an amazing question. We've been wondering what titles we should put on our business cards, and I think you just answered it. There is no one true gin lord in the group — we are all gin lords. We've gone through every single step in the development together. In fact, over five full years of development, we've only had two meetings that didn't include all five of the Founders (and one of those Tom attended via Zoom)." What's your preferred way to drink it? Individual answers please! Josey: "This may sound crazy, but Papa Salt makes a tremendous paloma." Margot: "Salt and soda with an orange rind and a crack of black pepper." Tom: "Dry martini straight up with an olive." Charlie: "Papa Salt and Fever Tree Sparkling Lime and Yuzu. Yuzu is the best citrus, it's not even close, and it pairs perfectly with Papa Salt." Regan: "Papa Salt & Soda with a juicy slice of blood orange and lots of ice." Explain the inspiration behind 'Papa Salt' as the name? I'm getting 'coastal daddy' vibes but I assume there's something more significant to it? "We wanted to name the product Salty Sea Dog Gin, but ran into some trademark issues there. But that was always the idea behind the brand – to celebrate those luxuriously aimless days in the sun. A few months later, on one of those exact sort of days, Tom, Margot, and Josey ended up at a beach bar in Sri Lanka with a salty sea dog who went by the name Papa Salt. He was originally from the Gold Coast, but after circumnavigating the globe a few times, he wound up on this particular beach on this particular day. It's our hope that Papa Salt Coastal Gin, born on the Eastern Australian coast, might travel just as far and create just as many memories." Current stockists for Papa Salt Coastal Gin are Rick Shores at Burleigh Beach, Raes on Wategos in Byron Bay, Icebergs Dining Room & Bar in Sydney and Stokehouse in Melbourne.
They first toured Australia in 1982. They've returned plenty of times since, including on the Big Day Out and Vivid lineups. When they were last here in 2020, the pandemic got in the way, causing them to cut short their plans — and now New Order have locked in their latest visit Down Under five years later. "It's an honour to be coming back to perform in one of our favourite places. We sadly had to cancel a Melbourne show in March 2020, as a consequence of COVID and are so happy we can come back to play again," said the Manchester-formed band, announcing their next Aussie dates. "We've always loved playing in Australia and are excited to be returning for a run of very special shows in 2025. Good things come to those who wait!" [caption id="attachment_976837" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erin Mc via Flickr[/caption] 'Blue Monday', 'Temptation', 'Bizarre Love Triangle' — more than four decades after forming, the group will play them all on a four-city Australian tour that starts at Perth's RAC Arena, then plays the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and Riverstage in Brisbane, before hitting the Sydney Opera House Forecourt for two nights, all in March 2025. Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner started New Order out of Joy Division, following the tragic death of the latter's lead singer Ian Curtis, and helped pioneer the synth-pop sound that not only helped define the 80s but has been influential ever since. If you've seen the films Control and 24 Hour Party People, you've seen part of New Order's story on-screen. And if you've caught them live before, you'll know that they're always a must-see. In Sydney, the group join Sydney Opera House's March run of forecourt concerts, which also includes Fontaines DC and PJ Harvey. "The incomparable New Order on the forecourt will be one of *those* Opera House moments to remember forever (and my 16 year-old self with his hopelessly worn-out tape of Substance can't quite believe it). Fontaines DC's moment is right now, and it's an honour to host one of the world's most fiercest live bands on the Forecourt for their massive Australian return," said Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall. [caption id="attachment_976838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] RL GNZLZ via Flickr[/caption] New Order Australian Tour 2025 Wednesday, March 5 — RAC Arena, Perth Saturday, March 8 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Tuesday, March 11 — Riverstage, Brisbane Friday, March 14–Saturday, March 15 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney New Order are touring Australia in March 2025, with tickets on sale from 10am local time on Thursday, October 31, 2024. Head to the tour website for further details. Top image: RL GNZLZ via Flickr.
Darlinghurst's much-loved ramen joint Chaco Bar has been serving up authentic Japanese fare to Sydneysiders for over five years. Now, the brand is expanding to Potts Point with a dedicated yakitori joint opening in the old Jimmy Liks space. Come October, it'll take on the Chaco Bar name, while the existing Darlinghurst digs will become Chaco Ramen. Owner Keita Abe had been hoping to focus more on both his ramen and yakitori offerings — so is splitting the concepts all together. "We've been running two concepts in one small kitchen and were very limited with what we could do," says Abe. "Now, we will have room to really specialise in both ramen and yakitori with these separate shops." Abe snatched up the Victoria Street space because it was already approved to have a charcoal grill, which can be a feat to obtain as it requires specific ventilation. [caption id="attachment_659260" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Letícia Almeida[/caption] At the new Potts Point Chaco Bar, you can expect a similar Fukuoka-inspired yakitori offering to what's currently on offer (at nights) in Darlo. Think skewers of organic pork belly, spicy lamb shoulder, wagyu tongue, miso eggplant and ponzu okra; plus, all parts of the chicken, including thigh, wing, heart, tail and gizzards. An omakase menu will also be up for grabs. As it is traditional for some Japanese meals to end with rice or noodles, there is a potential for some mini bowls of ramen to make the menu, too — but that is still in the planning phases. Expect big things from the new restaurant's fit-out, too, which is being looked after by designer Matt Darwon — his work can also be seen inside Crown Street's Toko and at Clayton Wells' Automata. It'll all, of course, centre on a new robata grill and a woodfired stove, with all of the fiery cooking on display from an open kitchen. As far as the existing Darlinghurst location is concerned, it'll soon be dubbed Chaco Ramen and only focus on the namesake dish. As the venue relaunches, diners can expect some exciting new ramen and soup options from the kitchen — plus snacks like edamame, taro chips and gyoza — but no yakitori whatsoever. Chaco Bar will open in early-October at 186–188 Victoria Street, Potts Point and, at the same time, the existing Darlinghurst location will become Chaco Ramen. Keep an eye on this space for more details closer to the launch. Images: Chaco Bar Darlinghurst by Letícia Almeida
This article is sponsored by our partners, Rekorderlig. Longtime snow bunnies and powder purveyors know exactly what to throw in their duffle bags for a weekend away. But perhaps you've never trekked to the pearly white mountains, endeavoured to carve up snowfields, dangled your skis precariously from a lift only to reach the mountaintop and realise you've picked up the wrong skis. Never done it? Maybe your experience with snow looks like this: With the help of our seasoned snow enthusiasts Rekorderlig we're here to help the ski-pack go smoothly with our surefire list of winter essentials you'll be needing on your snow trip. If you're a seasoned snowgoer, perhaps we've nailed the missing element. From Cards Against Humanity to Out Cold on flickering VHS (all best fuelled with copious amounts of cinnamon-drenched hot cider), here's the ultimate list of what to pack when entering the realms of the White Walkers. Moon Boots Stomping and schlumping in novelty boots is half the fun of trekking to the snow. Bringing NASA to le neige, Moon Boots are just about the most fun you can have walking in a straight line. Tecnica created Moon Boots back in the early '70s, bringing technical finesse to snuggly footwear. They were coveted back then, they're still coveted now — with more ridiculous, customisable iridescent colours to choose from than ever. Even Dior makes Moon Boots. Rainbow Moon Boots are a favourite, also bright gold makes a Riff Raff out of any snowbound citizen. For post-carve-up downtime, whack on a pair of ugg boots. Hot tip, don't wear your uggs around icy areas if you want to keep your beanie-clad skull intact. Another hot tip, don't wear uggs as regular shoes. You may just have to rethink your life. Snuggly Threads Ah thermals, the unsexiest garment in anyone's wardrobe this side of Bridget Jones' nanna pants. But by the power of how unbelievably good a film Frozen is, they keep you mighty warm. Think '80s and look for either lycra or spandex thermals, they're the fabrics that keep the warmth in and let your sweaty ski body breathe. Hit up Uniqlo for the most acceptable of the cheaper thermal options, avoiding the cream lacy spencers of K-Mart. Keep your little paws toasty with some handwarmers and crank one of those ridiculous beard beanies — earning you the esteemed title of That Guy on the slopes for the season. Camera Strap a GoPro to your head, throw yourself down a mountain on a tiny, tiny strip of wood, upload it to YouTube. This is the quintessential essence of going to the snow. A Warm Winter Cider So your face froze off, huh? You've earned a good ol' defrosting session, kicking back with your fellow boarders in the lodge and mulling over the triumphs and epic fails of the day over a warm mug of cider. The Swedish legends at Rekorderlig make winter bearable, with their Premium Winter cider perfect when heated up and cradling in your frozen paws. This delicious apple cider, laced with cinnamon and vanilla, goes down super well at the end of a long, blizzardy, chairlifty day. Board Games If you're hauled up inside while blizzards shut down any lodge bar plans, what possible other way to spend the time than significant cider-fuelled boozing and old school board games — usually graduating from Balderdash to sexy Twister. Many a cold wintry night has been spent after a long, semi-successful black ski run unwinding with a bout of Mouse Trap, a spot of Scattergories or a lightning round of Battleship. There are certain so-called 'fun for the whole family' blatant lies to avoid — everyone knows Monopoly and Risk are ill-advised choices, unless you're up for a good ol' fashioned fallout with your mates. Perfect for a dark and stormy night, Cluedo usually starts out jovially and ends with someone's inevitable demise in the kitchen with the lead pipe. But if you're after the ultimate game to bring to the snow, Cards Against Humanity is your ticket to breaking the ice indoors. Offensive, yes. Inappropriate, yes. GUARANTEED-A-ONE-WAY-TICKET-TO-HADES-FUN, absolutely. Classic Snow Films Like watching the ever-genius Jingle All the Way only at Christmas time, cranking a good ol' snow-themed movie surrounded by the chilly stuff generates some kind of cheeseball magic. Start at the Empire Strikes Back, work your way to Dumb and Dumber and Edward Scissorhands, ice the cake with made-for-adult-viewing kiddie go-tos Frozen and Ice Age. If Cuba Gooding Jr's Snow Dogs just happens to accidentally play itself into your heart, that's cool. No judgement. Just don't let things get all Shining snow maze up in here. Fargo might be stretching the snowery a bit and Ethan Hawke's Alive might give you bad ideas, but if you're a James Bond fan check out On Her Majesty's Secret Service or For Your Eyes Only (plenty of sweet skiing chase scenes in which bullets ping off powder with physics-defying metally noises). Cool Runnings might get you to to the top of the bobsled course, while solid docos like Art of Flight will make you do dumb jumping-out-of-helicopter things the next day. But the most honorable of mentions goes to 2001's rambunctious screwball comedy Out Cold, best viewed on shitty VHS and only truly appreciated by Super Troopers fans. Oh yeah... one more thing. Skis. You'll probably need skis. Or a snowboard. Or the unbridled ability to personally roll down a hill at speed. At the end of the day (however dramatically you reach the base of the mountain) you're probably going to earn a snuggly defrost, a crappy movie and a mug of warm Rekorderlig. Happy packing.
Japan has continued to grow in popularity as a holiday destination. A (relatively) short flight away, it offers nature, cities, unbeatable food, cultural experiences, and a famous public transport system that makes getting around a breeze. But if you want to see the real Japan, you need to explore its culture a little deeper. In collaboration with the Japan National Tourism Organization, we've selected eight traditional events that will allow you to dive head-first into the country's lesser-known regional culture. [caption id="attachment_916162" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Mu Mu via iStock[/caption] Yuki Matsuri — Sapporo Snow Festival People may know Japan for its fantastic skiing, but fewer are up to speed with this fascinating winter festival, which showcases some of the most inventive culture that Sapporo has to offer. What began in 1950 as a festival with 50,000 attendees organised by a local high school in a park is now an eight-day artistic winter extravaganza that attracts over two million visitors every year. The February 2025 incarnation takes place across three separate sites and features snow sculptures from world-renowned artists, plus winter sports exhibitions and a range of family-friendly sub-zero activities. [caption id="attachment_972213" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Japan National Tourism Organization[/caption] Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri — Osaka Harvest Festival Danjiri matsuri are "float" or "cart-pulling" festivals that are held across Japan, and while the coastal town of Kishiwada may be small in stature, it hosts one of the largest such events in the whole country, all to kick off the harvest season. A tradition that dates back three centuries, crowds come from afar to witness teams pull their elaborately decorated danjiri festival floats — which can weigh up to four tons — through the city streets. This important historic festival is held every September in the quaint locale in southern Osaka Prefecture. [caption id="attachment_972214" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] RnDmS via iStock[/caption] Nada Kenka Matsuri — Dynamic Hyogo City Festival Nada Kenka Matsuri is a "fighting festival" where teams of local men carry intricately carved floats through Himeji City before smashing them into one another to assert dominance and claim the honour of a blessing at the local shrine. Over 100,000 people every year come to witness this traditional, not to mention dangerous, ritual. It's believed the winners will be blessed with a bountiful harvest. So, if you're keen to experience something that ties organised choreography, all-out carnage, and traditional beliefs together, head to Hyogo Prefecture in October — Nada Kenka Matsuri could be exactly what you're looking for. [caption id="attachment_972223" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Subajogu via iStock[/caption] Eisa Matsuri — Okinawa Dance Festival Eisa is a form of folk dancing that originated in Okinawa and every year, the region pays homage to its heritage with this festival. Over three days, hundreds of thousands of visitors watch the people of Okinawa honour their ancestors and traditions. On the final day, spectators get the opportunity to join the eisa dancers in a celebratory denouement. As if that wasn't enough, there's a dramatic climax, during which a technicolour fireworks display closes out this unique part of Okinawa culture during summer. Chichibu Yomatsuri — Saitama Winter Night Festival You'll have realised by now that if the word "matsuri" is somewhere in the title, there will be a float parade involved. Chichibu Yomatsuri is no exception. This festival, held annually at the start of December, features floats on which kabuki (traditional Japanese dance theatre) is performed. What sets this apart from some of the other similarly-sized festivals is its two-and-a-half-hour fireworks display — a highlight for attendees enjoying the sights and sounds of the area. Don't forget to make the most of the musical performances and street food stalls that have been set up to mark the occasion. [caption id="attachment_972236" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Grandspy707 via iStock[/caption] Usuki Takeyoi — Oita Bamboo Festival In case you're wondering what a bamboo festival might entail, the answer is over 20,000 bamboo lanterns lining the streets of eight different towns. This beautifully illuminated spectacle is held to retell the legend of Princess Hannya, who, legend says, needs the lights to light the path for her soul to return to its rightful place. Oita Prefecture is famous for its bamboo, so it's only natural that it's the material celebrated at Usuki Takeyoi. The lanterns are lit around sunset, providing a warm, otherworldly experience that has to be seen to be believed. [caption id="attachment_972241" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] RealdWorld8 via iStock[/caption] Nachi no Ogi Matsuri — Wakayama Shinto Festival Wakayama is home to a picturesque waterfall known for its beauty and tranquillity. However, once a year, the peace is shattered thanks to Nachi no Ogi Matsuri, a festival of fire where roaring flames and religious chanting combine. This is a sacred rite where heavy torches are carried along the staircase to the local shrine, transforming the waterfall into a thrilling collision of water and flame. It's held every year on July 14 and is a popular event, so make sure you arrive early to get a good vantage point for the festivities, which kick off at 2pm sharp. [caption id="attachment_972243" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kuremo via iStock[/caption] Oga no Namahage — Akita Demon Festival How did you spend NYE last year? Did you brave the eye-watering prices to go to an event in the city, or did you just spend it with friends? Whatever you did, chances are you didn't have an evening like the people of Oga. Every December 31, local men in demonic masks roam the streets, searching for young children to scare. The demons can be satiated with rice cakes and sake, before leaving the house with a blessing for the year ahead. No one is entirely sure where this tradition originated, but in 2018, UNESCO awarded it the classification of Intangible Cultural Heritage. It'll certainly be a New Year's you'll never forget. Discover more and start planning your trip to Japan at the Japan National Tourism Organization website.
Anything that Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo and Aladdin can do, The Jungle Book, The Lion King, Lady and the Tramp, Mulan and now Pinocchio can, too — if by anything you really mean get the live-action remake treatment by Disney, that is. The Mouse House sure does adore giving its animated classics do-overs with actors, realistic CGI or both, and it's now doing just that with the wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy. Indeed, the company's new take on Pinocchio will arrive on Disney+ on Thursday, September 8, Pinocchio has hit screens before with humans rather than pixels filling the frames, including recently via a fantastical Italian movie that starred Roberto Benigni as Geppetto. Also, back in 2002, Benigni made his own version first, but played the titular role instead. The key difference with this new Pinocchio: Disney remaking Disney, although the underlying tale behind every version always hails back to 1883 children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio by Italian author Carlo Collodi. Disney boasts two big drawcards for its latest remake: America's dad Tom Hanks and filmmaker Robert Zemeckis. The former returns to the screen fresh from getting somewhat villainous in Elvis, the latter opts to give an already-beloved book-to-film story another spin after not faring so well with The Witches, and the pair reteam following everything from Forrest Gump and Cast Away to The Polar Express. Hanks plays Geppetto, obviously. And in the just-dropped full trailer for the new film, he looks the kindly, loving part. As always, the story sees the wood carver build and care for a wooden puppet who then wants to become more than timber, but faces challenges finding his way in the world. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor) voices Pinocchio, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber) does the same with Jiminy Cricket — and the cast also includes Cynthia Erivo (Chaos Walking) as the Blue Fairy, Keegan-Michael Key (The Bubble) as 'Honest' John, Lorraine Bracco (Blue Bloods) as new character Sofia the Seagull and Luke Evans (Nine Perfect Strangers) as The Coachman. Clearly, this is one of those Disney remakes that considers hefty doses of CGI as closer to live-action than animation. No need to wish upon a star to see the end result, Disney fans — and yes, that song does feature, as performed by Erivo. If you're wondering why Mouse House's latest remake is heading to Disney+, and so soon, it'll drop on what the Mouse House has dubbed 'Disney+ Day' — alongside Thor: Love and Thunder's streaming debut, a behind-the-scenes look at Obi-Wan Kenobi, and sing-along versions of Frozen and Frozen 2. Check out the trailer for Pinocchio below: Pinocchio will be available to stream via Disney+ from Thursday, September 8. Images: courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
We're calling it: this summer is the summer of fresh and fruity cocktails in the backyard with as many mates as possible. Nothing is going to ruin the gin-filled summer we know we deserve — not even La Niña. To celebrate the warmer months, we've teamed up with Whitley Neill Gin to bring you five original cocktail recipes that go well beyond your usual G&T. For the uninitiated, Whitley Neill Gin produces handcrafted artisanal gin from the first gin distillery in London, dating back 200 years — and it's still the only gin distillery in London today. Of course, it's got a London Dry gin, but it's also known for its innovative flavoured gins which take cocktails to new heights. So dust off your cocktail shaker, make a spread of your favourite cheeses and call your mates for an afternoon sip session. [caption id="attachment_838645" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] MELON PATCH Serves one If you like your cocktails packed with real fruit and with a slight herby twist, the Melon Patch will be right up your alley. This take on a classic G&T features the Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin which, with its rich juniper notes, citrus and exotic botanicals, pairs well with the fresh watermelon chunks and mint. It's bound to be a winner after a long day at the beach, when your guests roll in sandy-footed and sun-kissed. Ingredients: 30ml Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin 3 watermelon chunks 120ml Strangelove Coastal Tonic Water Basil Ice (crushed) Method: Add watermelon pieces and gin into the bottom of a tall glass. Add tonic water and top with crushed ice. Garnish with basil. [caption id="attachment_838646" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] BRUNCH MARTINI Serves one Think martini, but fit for brunchtime. In this concoction, the grapefruit gin, tonic and lemon complement each other to make a perfectly sweet and zingy cocktail. And there's a dollop of marmalade, which is an interesting addition to impress your pals. Whether a hair-of-the-dog or a summery concoction to start a long lunch, this one will go down a treat. Ingredients: 30ml Whitley Neill Pink Grapefruit Gin 15ml pink grapefruit juice 15ml lemon juice 1 barspoon (or teaspoon) of marmalade 30ml Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic Ice Method: Shake gin, both juices and marmalade together over ice. Add 30ml Fever-Tree Aromatic Tonic Water to shaker — but don't shake again. Then, simply strain into a cocktail glass. [caption id="attachment_838648" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] POMME SPRITZ Serves one It's a universal truth that spritzes are the go-to balmy weather drink. This one features the Whitley Neill Quince Gin, which has a distinctive flavour that's a real winner. Pair that with a dash of cloudy apple juice and a good pour of prosecco for a fun, bubbly finish. Ingredients: 45ml Whitley Neill Quince Gin 60ml Strangelove pear soda 30ml cloudy apple juice 60ml prosecco 3 thin apple slices Cucumber ribbon Ice Method: Build all ingredients over ice in a highball or balloon glass, then garnish with green apple and cucumber. [caption id="attachment_838649" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] CRIMSON COCO COOLER Group serve Serve a jug of this cooler on those sticky summer days when the only activity you can carry out without breaking a sweat is walking from pool to freezer. Refreshing coconut water and fizzy cranberry soda make it the perfect arvo cocktail. Plus, it's ridiculously easy to make — just chuck all the ingredients in a carafe with some ice, give it a quick stir and you're good to go. Ingredients: 120ml Whitley Neill Raspberry Gin 250ml Capi cranberry soda 360ml coconut water 30ml lime juice Raspberries (to garnish) Lemon (to garnish) Cucumber (to garnish) Mint (to garnish) Ice Method: Add gin, cranberry soda, coconut water and lime juice into a carafe and fill with ice. Stir to combine. Garnish with raspberries, lemon wheels, cucumber wheels and mint. [caption id="attachment_838650" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Paul Liddle[/caption] ALL SEASONS Group serve This is a drink for those who like their cocktails fresh, fizzy and sweet. It's also perfect when for when you've got your mates over and you need to look impressive while maintaining conversation and effortlessly whipping up a jug of something. If you really want to impress, make sure you have some edible flowers on hand to garnish. Ingredients: 180ml Whitley Neill Rhubarb and Ginger Gin 200ml mango nectar 300ml Strangelove mandarin soda 90ml lime juice Dehydrated citrus (to garnish) Edible flowers (to garnish) Ice Method: Combine gin, mango nectar, soda and lime juice in a carafe and top with ice. Garnish with dehydrated citrus and flowers, and serve. For more information on the innovative Whitley Neill gin range, head to the website. Top image: Paul Liddle
Dining and shopping precinct The Mix at Chatswood Place has just welcomed a new hub for top-notch Korean eats. The Evergreen has opened its doors in the centre, offering a menu of Korean classics with a subtle Italian influence in a lush green space. Head Chef Jun Hwang, who has previously led kitchens at Sheraton Grand Sydney and Manly Greenhouse, heads up an accomplished team featuring several chefs who have worked across hatted Sydney restaurants like Tetsuya's, Kindred, LouLou and The Charles. Together, the team has created a menu that plays on the fun and nostalgic elements of Korean cuisine, creating a menu perfect for date-night dinners, midweek lunches or big group catch-ups. Among the menu highlights: a massive Korean barbecue platter featuring wagyu beef, pork belly, chicken, mushroom and corn served sizzling hot; a pair of loaded burgers available for lunch only, one fried chicken and one prawn; bulgogi beef noodle salad; and steak tartare with seaweed crackers. The Italian influence sneaks in through dishes like the kimchi arancini, which introduces the beloved fermented cabbage to the cheesy Italian starter — and the Korean-style gnocchi made from spicy pasta sauce, shallots, parmesan, tête de moine and chives. You'll also find Hwan's take on a tiramisu made with Toby's Estate coffee and dalgona. Patrons can also book in for a Korean take on a Sydney favourite: high tea. For $65, the package includes a tower of tartare, beef skewers, octopus, tuna tarts, cooked prawns, kimchi arancini, seasonal fruit tart and banana panna cotta — plus your choice of beer, wine or tea. Rounding out the menu is a drinks list featuring a selection of soju-infused cocktails, plus a kimchi margarita, mandarin highball, and refined range of wines and tap beers. Head in between 5–9pm Monday–Thursday and you'll be treated to $7 beers and wines as part of The Evergreen's happy hour. And on Wednesdays and Thursdays, the deal is extended to cocktails, which are available for just $12 across the four-hour period. The Evergreen is located at The Mix, UG6 260 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood — open 11am–3pm and 5–9pm Monday–Sunday.
"It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful." These are the words of one Vincent van Gogh, part-time ear surgeon, all-time famous artist, declaring the artistic beauty inherent within books. Some artists have elected to take his words literally, adopting literary works as their medium and through careful artistic surgery have constructed intricate and engrossing works that put even the greatest of pop-up books to shame. The best of these have now been collated together by Laura Heyenga in the new book Art Made From Books: Altered, Sculptured, Carved, Transformed. The volume features the varied book-based work of 27 different artists, each with their own technique of sculpting. Whether it is transforming a hardback book into a miniaturist tableaux of surgical precision or carefully operating with scalpel and tweezer to encapsulate a new literary work like the one below, each artist has their own means of message-construction. "Some of these artists are making comments about the role of reading in contemporary culture, others find that books are a handy art form," says Alison Kuhn, author of the introduction to Art Made From Books: Altered, Sculptured, Carved, Transformed, in an interview with Fast Co.Create. "They see books as a backdrop for their creativity." Whilst some may think of these works as vandalism, many are merely breathing new life into tired books or outdated telephone directories. "The information is outdated, the paper is probably yellowed or worse, so the fact that a book can become something charming and creative and valuable in a new light is kind of great." Amidst the depths of the digital age and the advent of the Kindle, these works just go to show that van Gogh was right; there is no replacing the enchanting aura of a book. Let the bookception begin. BRRRRRRRAAAAAWWWWRWRRRMRMRMMRMRMMMMM!!! Via Fast Co.Create
Tasmanian tourism entered 2026 on the back of a record-breaking season, welcoming an all-time visitation high of 1.36 million travellers over the previous 12 months. Yet the island is looking to keep the good times flowing, especially over the cooler months, with Tourism Tasmania releasing its 2026 Off-Season Events Guide. Designed to inspire all Australians to become winter people, this stacked cultural calendar highlights what's happening in local arts and culture, cuisine, music, wellness, and more from May to August. While Hobart's reputation continues to grow internationally, Agfest Field Days is a chance to get to know Tassie's rural landscape and community. Running from Thursday, May 7–Saturday, May 9, over 55,000 visitors head to Carrick in Northern Tasmania, where over 600 exhibitors present machinery, locally made clothing, artisan food and loads more. Meanwhile, the experiences on offer span woodchopping competitions to working dog trials. So, pack your wellies and make tracks to this whip-cracking festival. Of course, Tassie is also a world-class adventure destination, home to bucket-list treks such as the Overland Track and the Three Capes Walks. Yet a new experience debuts in 2026 — Diverge Skyruns. Held from Friday, May 1–Sunday, May 3, the event introduces two of Australia's most daring skyruns: The Mt Lyell Skyrun 50km and the Mt Owen Skyrun 25km. Centred around Queenstown on Tasmania's wild west coast, this historic mining town will also feature community events for would-be fitness freaks, like a carb-loading pasta dinner at The Paragon Theatre. On the culinary front, staying warm is made easy at Maltstock Down Under. Taking over the picturesque Ratho Farm Highlands Resort from Friday, May 15–Sunday, May 17, this not-for-profit, community-led whisky festival features visits to local distilleries, fireside tastings with distillers, a blind-tasting competition and a series of relaxed communal gatherings. All told, over 80 whiskies are ready to be sampled, while visitors are invited to bring and share their own bottles amid Tassie's alpine reaches, probably around a soothing open fire. For something a little more occult, Dark Mofo returns in 2026 with another provocative midwinter solstice festival from Thursday, June 11–Monday, June 22. Since taking a break for a "period of renewal," the renowned festival has gone from strength to strength, with this year's star-studded music lineup featuring Princess Nokia's brash raps, Danny Brown's chaos-inducing energy, Dry Cleaning's sardonic wit and more. Plus, returning fire-lit rituals include the Winter Feast, Night Mass, the Ogoh-Ogoh burning and the Nude Solstice Swim, if you're brave enough. Then, not too long before warmer weather returns, Permission to Trespass offers visitors from near and far rare access to private properties across Wynyard and Table Cape. Held over two weeks, from Wednesday, July 1–Wednesday, July 15, this event unlocks parts of Tasmania's North West, with places usually closed to the public brought to life by long-table dinners, twilight markets, art exhibitions, local pub choirs, and creative workshops. Throw on your hiking boots and scope out the sights, this time with the community's go-ahead. Head to the website for more information. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox. Images: Supplied.
Since 2015, gin lovers around the country have tripped over themselves to get their spirit-loving fingers on a bottle of Four Pillars' Bloody Shiraz Gin — and that's before they've even had a sip of alcohol. The limited edition shiraz-infused concoction really is that good. It's one of the most coveted booze releases of each year, in fact. So, we thought you'd like to know that the next batch goes on sale on Tuesday, May 31. If you haven't come across the gin before, it's basically what it says on the label: gin infused with shiraz grapes. This gives the spirit a brilliant deep cerise colour and some sweet undertones (without a higher sugar content). That, along with its higher alcoholic content — 37.8 percent, compared to an average 25 percent in regular sloe gin — makes the Bloody Shiraz Gin a near-perfect specimen. It can be used in cocktails where you'd usually use your regular gin — or you can keep things simple with a G&T. Four Pillars initially created the game-changing gin when it came into a 250-kilogram load of shiraz grapes from the Yarra Valley. Experimenting, the Victorian distillers then steeped the grapes in their high-proof dry gin for eight weeks before pressing the fruit and blending it with the gin, and hoping like hell it would turn out well. It did. 2022's bloody great Bloody Shiraz Gin also comes as a limited-edition option, with Australian photographer and artist Luke Shadbolt helping create an eye-catching bottle. His impressive artwork is printed directly onto the glass, using a copper etching of one of his photographs of the Australian ocean — and is designed to take its cues from Hokusai's The Great Wave. Also bloody excellent: doing more than just selling the cult-favourite drop, Four Pillars has also made Bloody Shiraz Gin chocolate. Using leftover grape skins from crafting the tipple in the spotlight, these fruit and nut chocolate bars have been whipped up by Hunted+Gathered using ground grape skins mixed with cocoa butter and raw sugar, plus cashews and sultanas. If your tastebuds are tempted, it's super-limited, and you can get it in bundles with the Bloody Shiraz Gin. Clearly, it's been a bloody nice time for Four Pillars of late, with the Bloody Shiraz Gin range dropping just weeks after it relaunched its revamped Healesville base. And yes, that's one of the places that you can pick you the new gin and chocolate. The 2022 Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin and Bloody Shiraz Gin chocolate will go on sale around the country on Tuesday, May 31. Bottles cost $85, while bundles with chocolate cost $90. Head to the Four Pillars website to make a purchase — or hit up the Four Pillars Distillery at Healesville, Victoria and the Four Pillars Lab in Surry Hills, Sydney.
Much-hyped multi-space venue Shell House has opened its doors with the first of its four bars and eateries, Menzies Bar. Named after the former occupancy of the building, the Menzies Hotel, the luxe bar and eatery serves a bistro-style menu curated by The Point Group executive chef Joel Bickford and his team. The ground-level space that houses The Menzies Bar has been restored and renovated with the help of interior stylist Anna Hewett and Woods Bagot Architects. The bar and restaurant have been given a stunning makeover with warm bronze and gold marble complimenting a leather fit-out featuring a blackened steel bar, overhead bar hamper storing more than 1000 bottles of spirits and a marble fireplace. The Menzies Bar is open Monday–Saturday from midday until 2am with offerings ideal for lunch, dinner or a snack while you enjoy a drink. Small plates include spanner crab benedict on potato crumpets ($18), smoked eggplant and parmesan polpette ($12), chicken liver eclairs ($16) and yellowfish tuna with capers and a boiled egg ($22). When it comes to larger dishes, you'll find the likes of vongole and fermented chilli linguini ($26) and spiced fried kingfish collar alongside bistro classics like a wagyu beef burger ($26) and 400-gram boneless rib eye served with lemon and olive oil ($60). A vibrant selection of cocktails (all $22) are also on hand. The In-Cider Trading features scotch, coffee, fig, cider caramel and smoked honey; while The Dolphin's Sicilian Margarita has made its way to the new venue, combining tequila with limoncello, Sichuan, and fresh lemon. And, if you're looking for an after-work drink, the bar will host Martini Hour Monday–Saturday between 4–6pm where the classic cocktail stirred through shards of countertop ice will be served alongside fresh lobster rolls for $10 apiece.
Sometimes, the best gifts are the ones that are practical, keep you busy or get you feeling crafty. We're talking gardening, tools, all things arts and crafts and the latest gadgets. Finding things to keep you occupied and using your hands is super important, especially over the holiday season, when most people have more time on their hands than they know what to do with. Luckily, Amazon has heaps of cool stuff to support your DIY era over the summer break. Here are some of our top choices. 1. Self Watering Pots Gardening can be harder than you think, so starting off with these SpringUp Self-Watering Pots is a good way to beat the summer heat. These pots come with a detachable saucer and a water storage system that automatically keeps your plants hydrated. Plus, drainage holes prevent plants from being overwatered. Made from sleek white, durable, recyclable plastic, they can be used indoors or outdoors — the perfect gardening gift for your green-thumbed friends and family. [caption id="attachment_840175" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Markus Spiske (Unsplash)[/caption] 2. Sewing Starter Pack If you can't afford expensive new clothes as a gift, sewing clothes yourself is a great backup. Gifting the Sew It Yourself with DIY Daisy kit will not only give your friends some cool new threads (eventually), but it'll also provide them with endless hours of fun DIY-ing. This colourful, size-inclusive book is perfect for sewers of all stages and abilities, from beginner to master, with guides on everything you need to get started, including equipment, materials, basic techniques and step-by-step projects. 3. Beer Cooler There is nothing worse than warm beer, and if you've noticed your dad's still using the scruffy stubby he has had since the 80s, maybe it's time for an upgrade. Enter the Huski Beer Cooler. Made from marine grade 316 stainless steel and triple insulated, this little thing means business. Our favourite thing about this beer cooler, however, is that it adjusts to fit differently sized cans or bottles – so no matter what you're drinking, it will fit. 4. Gardening Gloves These PHIRAH Gardening Gloves are everything we've ever dreamed of. Cute, practical and comfortable, we'd wager anyone with these will be inspired to spend much more time out in the garden. Offering full protection from dirt and bugs (no dirty fingernails with these gloves,) they're made from breathable and sweat-absorbent canvas material, which means they actually feel good to wear. Our favourite thing about them has to be the ergonomically designed thumbs, which make it easy to grip those pesky garden tools. Say no more. 5. Storage Rack Organizer Don't quote us, but organising the home and pantry has to be one of the most common things to do over the Christmas and New Year's break. After a year of putting it off and with no more excuses, the time always comes. Here, to make it all a bit easier is the HuggieGems 4 Pack Magnetic Spice Storage Rack Organizer. For the fridge, it's got a strong magnet attachment that allows you to store extra items on the outside, which is especially useful for those who live in small spaces. It is also super easy to adjust when needed. 6. Candle Making Kit Why buy candles when you can make them yourself? This candle-making kit has everything you need. Follow the step-by-step instructions to make your very own soy candle using natural soy wax, pure spices and easy-to-use tools. Not only do you get to make a candle, but you can also have fun doing it. It also comes in a cute gift box, so you don't even have to wrap it. 7. Origami Kit A cute gift for kids or origami beginners, the Complete Origami Kit is bound to provide hours of fun. The kit includes clear and easy-to-follow instructions for creating 30 projects, including step-by-step diagrams, as well as 96 sheets of origami folding paper and two sheets of gold metallic paper. [caption id="attachment_978071" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kicia Papuga via iStock[/caption] 8. Jewellery Pliers Apparently, making jewellery isn't actually that hard, you just need the right pliers for the job. Enter the Shynek Jewellery Pliers. Coming in a set of three including needle-nose pliers, round-nose pliers and wire cutters, the kit is not only great for jewellery making but is also handy for jewellery repair, wire wrapping and other DIY crafts. 9. Gardening Tools Another idea for the green thumbs, this Grenebo Gardening Tools set has it all. Made from stainless steel, the set includes eight tools, including pruning shears, a weedier, a transplanter, a cultivator and more, all in a cute little bag so you can carry your tools wherever you go. The bag also doubles as storage, so it's a win-win. 10. Cross Stitching Kit Embroidery is well and truly trendy again. So the AUTOWT Beginner Cross Stitching Kit may be the ideal gift for anyone looking for a new hobby. The kit includes all the gear you need, as well as needle art illustrations for instructions. Once finished, the embroidery can be hung on the wall for decoration, or can also be embroidered on pillowcases, towels and backpacks. Images: Supplied by Amazon. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, Concrete Playground may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site.
If you like nabbing bargains, then Christmas has come a month early in 2022. Black Friday is here, and sales, sales and more sales are popping up everywhere on and around Friday, November 25. So, maybe you're keen to treat yo'self to whatever is on your wishlist. Perhaps you're getting your festive shopping done early. Or, you could be getting a jump on your 2023 holiday planning. If it's the latter that has you most excited about Black Friday, here's a destination to add to your itinerary: the Northern Territory. Via Tourism NT and a range of holiday providers, you can now score $89 flights to Australia's Red Centre and Top End, plus up to 25-percent off holiday experiences. [caption id="attachment_846391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT[/caption] The specials are running for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and those $89 airfares will take you from Sydney to Uluru with Jetstar. The full range of flights includes discounts to both Uluru and Alice Springs from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns, with all fares under $150. Also on offer: packages via Flight Centre, some including airfares, all with hefty discounts. Flights, accommodation and a three-day cultural getaway at Uluru start at $1435, or you can get the same setup for a wildlife and desert ranges jaunt in Alice Springs from $1380. Hotel-only packages start at $503 per person for four nights in Darwin, if you're travelling as part of a couple — and, whether you're just nabbing flights, hotels or both, there's a heap of tours and experiences up for grabs for cheap as well, with discounts between 20–25-percent off. Fancy a self-driving tour of the Red Centre? That's on the list, too, and so are Kakadu jaunts, and hitting up waterfalls and national parks. Basically, if you haven't yet made the trip to the NT, this sale gives you zero excuses to keep it that way. To check out the Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday deals, head to the Tourism NT website. First top image: Tiwi Island Retreat, Tourism NT. Feeling inspired to book a getaway? You can now book your next dream holiday through Concrete Playground Trips with deals on flights, stays and experiences at destinations all around the world.
Among the nimble riot of the Hip Hop Festival next door, the Anna Schwarz Gallery has filled one of the CarriageWorks' concrete bays with glowing windows and ethereal frames of light. Perth native Brendan Van Hek's solo exhibition Some Kind of Love Story is a collection of sculpture made mostly from neon bulbs. The exhibition takes its cues from an Arthur Miller play of the same name, which laid two stock characters across a hard-boiled detective story. For Van Hek, the two-tone mismatch of the play's lovers are reflected in the skewiff colours and shapes that make up his sculptures. The pieces are spread out over the gallery's expansive floor. In the centre sit spare metal frames hung with coloured fluorescent tubes. It feels like someone was halfway through setting up a spartan and very clean laboratory. The frames get lost in the grey and gravel floors, while the light hangs in the air, waiting for the room to come to life again. Along the left-hand wall, pairs of neon-lit portholes shimmer and burn. Each is arranged in a duet of colours — white and beige, pale and deeper blue, cheek-pink and red, yellow and yolk-yellow, sea-Green and sky-blue, purple and flamingo. Given that the exhibition explores mismatched relationships, it's not out of place that Some Kind of Love Story sits slightly crookedly in its surroundings. Anna Schwarz is good gallery space, but extraordinarily large. The metal frames seem to get lost in this vastness, and it would have been good examine Van Hek's lights in more intimate surrounds. Nonetheless, the sculptures don't lose their strange mechanic, and the lights still own that eery, super-real feel that neons do. There may be a lot of space between them, but Van Hek's pieces are worth ambling around. Image by krossbow.
As a coffee-conscious Sydneysider, you may have noticed a new beverage popping up on your radar. Perhaps you’ve seen it served somewhere, read about it online, or maybe you’re one of the early adopters who's tried it. Either way, bulletproof coffee has come to town, and odds are we haven't reached peak bulletproof yet. Of course, this new trend brings with it the usual questions of what it is, why it is and where can you get it, so we’re here to break it down and shine the caffeinated light of learning on the matter. WHAT IS BULLETPROOF COFFEE? In essence, bulletproof coffee is a mixture of black coffee, grass-fed butter and medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). In most cases, the MCT used will be a virgin coconut oil or something remarkably similar. The idea is to get all three of these ingredients, blitz them up and drink it instead of breakfast and it will leave you feeling full, energised and focused in a way that a normal breakfast usually wouldn’t. The fervent mixing of the ingredients is absolutely paramount, in order to stop the fats that are so abundant in both butter and coconut oil from separating from the brew, rising to the top and forming a layer that looks a lot like soup-skin's evil older brother. What you’re left with is a rich and creamy morning cup of Joe that feels like an oil slick going down the gullet but keeps you going for hours. WHY IS BULLETPROOF COFFEE? The idea of blending butter into hot drinks is not a new one. In fact, the guy behind the bulletproof coffee movement, Dave Asprey, claims to have thought the idea up after sipping on a yak’s milk tea in Tibet. But this new, urbanised combo brings a little more science to the party. Bulletproof coffee is the offspring of the Paleo diet, which essentially encourages you to cram as many saturated fats into your body as possible. For those unfamiliar with the term, the idea is to eat as close to the diet of prehistoric man as possible, which means fats, fats and more fats, but not many carbs. So, the thought process goes that by giving your body its coffee kickstart with a dose of energy-dense saturated fat and MCTs, the caffeine will be absorbed slower by the body and thus give a lasting ‘high’. Plus, the fats will leaving you feeling full and negate the need for breakfast. The effects touted by aficionados of the trend include both high energy, increased brain function and weight loss, all of which is backed by a load of anecdotal evidence. Given this, it’s easy to see why health-conscious people around the world are getting in on going bulletproof. However, there isn’t a whole lot of science to back it up. In theory, the high-energy part of the equation should work, and the increased focus should be provided by the extended caffeine high. There is also some research that shows that MCTs can help to burn fats in the body, too. But it’s a tenuous link. A study conducted at Oxford Brookes University shows that, while MCTs bypass the adipose system that encourages fat absorption and thus helps burn fat, it doesn’t exactly help to boost energy and performance. Plus, the icing on the cake is that by drinking your bulletproof coffee first thing in the morning, you’re skipping a highly nutritious meal that provides energy and essential nutrients that the body needs to survive. So, while you may get the energy kick you might need in the morning, and make it last, drinking bulletproof does forgo a slew of health benefits. WHERE IS BULLETPROOF COFFEE? There are a couple of places in Sydney that are starting to sell bulletproof coffee on the regular, mostly in the eastern suburbs. Rubys Diner in Queen’s Park are knocking one up daily, and are more than happy to chat about the benefits of the brew. So too are the Paleo Cafe in Bondi Junction who can provide a whole mess of information regarding living life to the Paleo standard. Alternatively, you can source your own coffee, coconut oil and grass-fed butter and do it yourself, following Dave Asprey’s recipe. THE LAST WORD All in all, bulletproof coffee is not designed to be sipped like a latte at your local cafe in the Sydney sunshine. It’s a health drink that is purported to give an energy kick and promote weight loss when consumed correctly. As such, it’s important to be informed of the trend, and not go all-guns-blazing into a frenzy of sucking back on the fattened java that’s becoming more readily available around town. For now, I’ll be sticking with my strong flat whites.
Whether you watched along from 2009–15 when it was in production or you discovered its joys via an obsessive binge-watching marathon afterwards, Parks and Recreation is one of the 21st century's TV gifts — and the beloved sitcom cemented its stars, from its lead roles through to its supporting parts, as audience favourites. Plenty of those talents also share something else in common: a fondness for touring Down Under. Nick Offerman has done it, taking to Australia's stages. Amy Poehler has made multiple promotional Aussie trips for Inside Out and Inside Out 2. Henry Winkler even headed this way to chat through his lengthy career. Now, add the latter's on-screen son to the list. Ben Schwartz, aka Parks and Recreation's Jean-Ralphio Saperstein, has a date with Sydney in 2025. Don't be suspicious: Schwartz will be performing his Ben Schwartz & Friends live improv show, which begins with just a couple of chairs onstage. Where it goes from there, you'll only discover at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, May 3, because that's the joy of improv. Schwartz isn't just known for Parks and Recreation, although that's the first thing on his resume that'll always come to mind for Parks fans. Since his time in Pawnee wrapped up — since he stopped being one of the woooooooorst people in the fictional Indiana town, that is — he's also starred in murder-mystery comedy The Afterparty, voiced a certain spiny blue mammal in Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, loaned his vocal tones to Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Invincible, and featured in Space Force and Renfield. Top image: Disney/Image Group LA.
Every group of fictional friends have a cosy local haunt for daily debriefs. There's Central Perk, Tom's Restaurant, McLaren's, Paddy's Pub. You've probably always wanted your own IRL version of a sweet local where you can meet your closest pals after work. Well, if you live in the inner west, The General in Dulwich Hill could very well be your new place (substituting the Big Salad for a menu showcasing locally sourced produce). Chef co-owners Josh McPhee and Dave Moran met when they worked together at Jonah's at Whale Beach, and decided to roll the hospitality dice and open up their own place. The laidback pair built The General with their own hands, cleaning bricks, sourcing tables and $1 vintage school chairs, crafting concrete pendant lights, and generally renovating the former butchery into a relaxed casual eatery. The ever-changing menu has pride of place on an exposed brick wall, where it's scrawled with a permanent marker on a giant roll of brown paper. The brisket and fried chicken with dill pickles are crowd favourites and have managed to find semi-permanent spots on the menu, but the remaining items are switched out on the reg. It's so nice to see the chefs having fun experimenting with different produce, and it looks like they have several hundred metres left of paper to embark on a world of new food combos. The dishes are designed for communal dining, but are refreshingly generous in size, accompanied by a thoughtfully curated wine list showcasing both local and international numbers. A raw zucchini ribbon salad ($8) comes lightly coated in olive oil and tossed with Persian feta and crunchy sunflower seeds. It's one of those dishes that prompts people to say things like, "if all raw food was this good, I could eat it all the time"; a sentiment I too felt momentarily, until a glorious plate of burnt heirloom carrots with lemony yoghurt and warm peas ($14) arrived at our table. It was so nice to see carrots — those vegetables that are so often served boiled until they're within an inch of their orangeness — receive pride of place on a dinner plate. Moran said he wanted to recreate the burnt carrots his mum made when he was a kid and, in doing so, has elevated that chump vegetable reserved for the RSL Sunday roasts to a whole new level. As for the mains, the mountain of fried chicken served with a side of ranch and dill pickles ($32), provided the much-needed punctuation to what had thus far been a night of pretty #cleaneating. Consuming a whole chunk of deep-fried chicken as big as your fist proved something that couldn't be done neatly with a knife and fork, so be prepared to get elbow deep in a pile of crispy bird or GTFO. I also thoroughly recommend the chargrilled hanger steak with chimichurri ($35). Perfectly cooked medallions of blush pink, pepper-crusted steak brightened with charred lime and a punchy chimichurri, it's something not to be missed. Regardless of whether you've saved some room in your dessert stomach, you definitely need to try the salted caramel tart with coffee meringue ($12) — utterly indulgent thick caramel topped with soft espresso meringue peaks and served with a side of Nutella and cream. On the menu, this dish reads like a veritable Frankenstein's sweet monster, but it totally works. Images: Thomas Davies
If anyone has the know-how to transform a weary suburban pub into a go-to dining destination, it's Leigh McDivett and Clayton Ries. Not only did the pair have a huge hand in the Banksia Hotel's recent bistro revamp alongside celeb chef co-owner Colin Fassnidge, they're also western Sydney locals, having spent their childhoods kicking around in Northmead and Camden, respectively. Moving on from Banksia Bistro, the pair has moved further west to helm the Monarch Group's latest project, the Macquarie Hotel. The Liverpool pub has received an aesthetic spruce and a new produce-driven food offering. Headed up by McDivett, the kitchen's taking contemporary bistro dining up a few notches, across a menu of rejuvenated pub classics, crafty seasonal specials and desserts to drool over. Get excited for the likes of watermelon, chorizo, and Sriracha mayo salad, grilled whole leatherjacket with chard and pickled radicchio, and dreamy bacon ice cream pops. In keeping with the menu's new-school vibe, the pub itself has all the makings of a modern-day local with sports on the big screens, a cheery assortment of happy hour specials, and a leafy, timber-decked al fresco space to rival any inner-city beer garden. The Macquarie Hotel is now open at 269 Macquarie Street, Liverpool. For more info, visit macquarie-hotel.com.au.
'Based on true events' has been the theme for 2013, and why the hell not? Stranger than fiction and all that. Pick any genre and you'll find an example: Action - Gangster Squad; Comedy - Pain & Gain; Thriller - Captain Phillips; Horror - The Conjuring. None, however, are as adept at circling the carcass of history and picking away at the choice bits like Drama. Even just to look at the 'now showing' or 'coming soon' listings is to see: The Wolf of Wall Street, 12 Years a Slave, Dallas Buyer's Club, Philomena, Fruitvale Station and The Railway Man — all in some way grounded in real-world events. The question is how grounded, and that's why the opening to David O. Russell's new film American Hustle is so refreshing. "Some of this actually happened," it declares, acknowledging in those five simple words that — yes — liberties have been taken for your amusement, but also — yes — some of this stuff actually happened. That stuff is the infamous 'Abscam' sting of the late 1970s, during which the FBI engaged two prolific con artists — Sydney Prosser and Irving Rosenfeld — to ensnare a number of high-ranking US politicians on corruption charges. Sporting elaborate combovers, fake accents and plunging necklines, Prosser (Amy Adams) and Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) were a retro Bonnie and Clyde pairing who used smooth words instead of Tommy guns to fleece desperate men of their savings. Eventually caught by the FBI, they avoided jail time by agreeing to work alongside the ambitious agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), and atop their list of targets was a New Jersey mayor named Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). What began as a simple enough sting, however, soon ballooned out of control as hubris, greed and jealousy picked away at the already threadbare alliance and placed both the operation and their lives in jeopardy. O. Russell is undeniably an actors' director, and like just his previous films (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook), American Hustle is built around its strong performances and crackling dialogue. Bale, Adams, Cooper and Renner are all at their best here; however, it's Jennifer Lawrence as Rosenfeld's wife, Rosalyn, who steals the show. Part seductress, part clown, she moves seamlessly between the two extremes with such ease and speed that each can appear multiple times in a single scene. Keep an eye out, too, for an uncredited cameo by Robert De Niro as a mafia heavyweight in easily the most gripping of the film's 138 minutes. Yes, it is long, and it definitely drags at times; however, it's also immensely funny and beautifully captures the flashy/trashy excess of the '70s — most notably in Adams' countless revealing dresses — for which none will receive any 'best supporting role' nods vis-a-vis her perilously positioned breasts. Yet even they have their place, establishing the complexity of a character who freely exposes all to the world save for the truth of who she really is. That's American Hustle, too: a layered and captivating film where you're never quite sure who to believe or which stuff actually happened. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NqgjPRNRDSY
I was first introduced to jazz by Keiko Nobumoto's arse-whipping galactic epic, Cowboy Bebop, and now I feel like a frantic space privateer whenever I hear some mercurial melodies. Imagine my excitement then, when I think about the Paddington Reservoir Gardens filled with jiving notes. Already I can see myself chasing those alien criminals amongst the stone arches and swinging a few martial moves over a flowerbed - all to a 5/4 time signature.Eccentrics aside, the Gardens will host a medley of Sydney's jazz scene as part of the Uncover Oxford Street program (another Art&About initiative). Present day musicians will be represented by the likes of Bob Bertles, Susan Gai Dowling, Ben Fink and Lily Dior, while music photographer Shane Rozario brings the past to life with his month-long exhibition of the Jazz Underground. Feel free to schmooze the photos at your own pace, or listen to Shane's free talk during the festival for the lowdown on the world of Sydney jazz.Video from Cowboy Bebop (1998), copyright Sunrise Inc.https://youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE
If your last couple of dates have consisted of dinner and a movie, or a few drinks at your local bar, it's time to spice things up a little. With the Sydney Festival rolling into town in January — transforming our city into a creative playground for three weeks — there are heaps of opportunities to take your date night game up a good couple of notches. Options for creative dates abound, with shows ranging from thought-provoking art exhibitions to mind-blowing circus and saucy burlesque. Crafting the perfect date can be a challenge, though, especially when there are so many options to choose from. To help ensure your date is a smashing success, we've designed three itineraries that are guaranteed to blow your significant other away. Choose from an afternoon of circusy excitement in Parramatta, an evening of photography and music in central Sydney or a night of freaky fun at the Meriton Festival Village. Each itinerary features some of the festival's best events and a meal at a partner restaurant that has special deals for festival goers (being a cultured being has its perks). Saturday date plans officially sorted. [caption id="attachment_641834" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Prudence Upton.[/caption] AN AFTERNOON OF CIRCUSY FUN IN PARRAMATTA 1pm: Flying Trapeze Workshops, Prince Alfred Square Kickstart your date by taking it to the next level (literally) with a workshop by the Sydney Trapeze School. This two-hour class ($49 + booking fee) is geared towards beginners and will have you soaring through the air on a ten-metre-high trapeze rig practising your newly-acquired aerial skills in no time. 2.15 pm: Lunch at The Emporium Parramatta Learning to fly with the greatest of ease can be hard work. Reward yourselves with a leisurely lunch at The Emporium Parramatta. A short stroll across Lennox Bridge, this beautiful Mediterranean-influenced restaurant is serving up a $30 lunch for Sydney Festival goers. 3.30pm: Aerialize workshop, Riverside Theatre Once you're refuelled, head back to Circus City for some more acrobatic training at a free workshop by Sydney's premier circus training centre, Aerialize. Learn how to juggle, hula hoop or pick up some basic aerial skills in these hands-on classes that are open to all ages and abilities. 5.30pm: Backbone, Riverside Theatre After a full day of circus training and moving your body in ways you didn't realise you could, it's time to take a load off and see how the professionals do it. Backbone, by acrobatic troupe Gravity & Other Myths, is an incredible feat of collective strength, flexibility and stamina, highlighted by a lighting display shimmering ever-so-slightly and designed to keep you on the edge of your seat. After the performance, you may find yourselves so inspired you'll repeat this circusy day all over again. [caption id="attachment_642589" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Joel Chester Fildes.[/caption] AN EVENING OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND DANCE 4pm: Tell: Contemporary Indigenous Photography, UNSW Galleries Start your artsy date night with this ground-breaking photography exhibition, featuring works by 17 leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. This free show explores heritage and identity in unconventional forms, using cutting-edge photographic technologies to articulate the varied experiences of life as an Indigenous person in Australia. 5pm: In Your Dreams, UNSW Galleries Once you've thoroughly explored Tell, slide on over to In Your Dreams, the second photography show housed at the UNSW Galleries during the festival. This free photo and video exhibition sees renowned artists like Alejandro Cartagena, Sim Chi Yin and Andres Serrano addressing the pressing global themes of poverty, displacement and homelessness. 6.30pm: Dinner at Kindred Once you've had your fill of photography, stroll down Cleveland Street to Kindred. This cosy spot is the perfect place for you and your bae to go Lady and the Tramp over a big bowl of house-made pasta. Nestle in and get yourself some delicious nosh from the $30 Festival Feast menu. 8pm: Tree of Codes, ICC After dinner, hop in an Uber, direction: ICC, to see ballet Tree of Codes, inspired by novelist Jonathan Safran Foer's book of the same name. Not every ballet features dancers forming constellations, gramophone-shaped mirrors creating kaleidoscopic visuals, refractive and reflective surfaces making it appear as though performers are overlapping, and choreography created for every leaf in a 134-page text — but not every ballet is Tree of Codes. Top off your night with this stunning ballet from a stellar collaboration between Jamie xx, Royal Ballet choreographer Wayne McGregor and Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Only in Sydney for five days, you'll want to snag some tickets to this — your special someone will definitely thank you. [caption id="attachment_642182" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Carnival Cinema.[/caption] A NIGHT OF WILD AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES AT THE MERITON FESTIVAL VILLAGE 7.30pm: Dinner at Madame Shanghai Start your night by wooing your significant other with dinner at Madame Shanghai, a gorgeous restaurant that's all dark wooden tables, wicker chairs and jade and gold accents aplenty. The menu ($55 for the Festival Feast) is equally good-looking, featuring dishes inspired by Shanghai-style street food and luscious cocktails. 9pm: Freaky Fun at the Meriton Festival Village Sideshow After dinner, head to the Meriton Festival Village for a few hours of kidulting at the Village Sideshow. This 'freaky fun' park is packed with a variety of wild and wonderful experiences that all but guarantee a memorable date night. Start with Ghost Train ($10), a virtual reality journey along a reimagined fairground ride where nostalgia meets the digital future to mind-blowing effect. Next, shake off the scares with a ride on the Karaoke Carousel ($5), where you can belt out your favourite hits as you ride a unicorn in circles. Round it all out with a ten-minute dance party ($5) in a converted shipping container — a brilliant concept that lets you experience the joys of a full night out in a minimal amount of time. 10.30pm: Briefs: Close Encounters, Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Meriton Festival Village Next up is Close Encounters ($70-80 + booking fee), the latest offering from the insanely popular Aussie boylesque troupe, Briefs. If you haven't seen these icons in action before, you're in for a treat. Expect a cheeky sci-fi spectacle performed with the troupe's characteristic combination of circus, comedy, drag, burlesque and contemporary dance. It's as creative, glamorous and thrilling as it sounds. Late: Finish off dancing to one of the nightly DJs If Close Encounters and the ten-minute party have got you in the mood for some dancing, head back to the Meriton Festival Village and get that bod on the dance floor. With DJs every night and a large bar area, you and your SO will be throwing shapes until the wee hours of the morning. It's bound to be a date night for the books. Top image: Jamie Williams. Looking for more things to do? Discover the best free things to do, some ace music events and even more on the Sydney Festival website.
According to an old boating adage, the two best days in a boat owner's life are the day they buy their boat, and the day they sell it. Since 2014, Danish company GoBoat has been offering people throughout Europe and Australia the chance to enjoy a hassle-free time on the water, thanks to its easy-to-navigate electric boats that can be hired by the hour. In other words: all care, zero responsibility. In 2021, GoBoat debuted its first fleet of BYO picnic boats in Sydney at Cabarita Point. Four years on, the service is headed to the North Shore, with its family- and doggo-friendly hire boats launching from Mosman from Wednesday, April 9. The Scandinavian-designed boats are built with breezy, hassle-free days on the water in mind. With capacity of up to eight people, the 18-foot cruisers feature a large, shaded picnic table ideal for spreading out your food and drinks as you cruise through Middle Harbour and as far up as Castle Cove. GoBoats are environmentally friendly, too — each one is powered by a quiet, pollution-free electric engine and is made from a mix of reclaimed timber and recycled PET bottles. The vessels boast zero operating emissions, zero noise pollution and zero waterway erosion. Boats are available to hire for up to three hours, with prices starting at less than $20 per person, per hour. Before setting sail, you'll receive a safety briefing and a demonstration to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. Plus, the boats are speed-limited and equipped with all necessary safety gear, including life jackets. There's no age limit on the boats — and you don't need a boat license to take one out for a cruise. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a leisurely day out with mates, or simply wanting to soak up some views, a day on the water is simply a booking away. [caption id="attachment_701554" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms[/caption] Find GoBoat The Spit – Mosman at d'Albora Marinas The Spit, Spit Road, Mosman. For more information or to make a booking, visit the service's website.
Canberra might once have been described as 'the ruination of a good sheep paddock', but tables have turned. Global travel publisher Lonely Planet has ranked the Australian capital third on its 2018 Best in Travel: Top Cities list. That's the highest position ever achieved by an Australian city — Melbourne and Sydney included. What's more, Canberra's the only of our metropolises to have made the top ten for next year. The guide describes Canberra as packing "a big punch" for a small city, noting its abundance of "national treasures", "boutique precincts" and "gastronomic highlights". Next year the capital will also host its first test cricket match and the 100th anniversary of the WWI Armistice. "These are the cities our travel experts say you should experience in 2018," Alex Howard, managing editor of Lonely Planet magazine US, told CNN. "Whether they've been overlooked, are celebrating milestones next year or have crept up on our radar lately, they all offer compelling reasons to go soon." Topping the list is Seville, a city in southern Spain that featured in Game of Thrones, but is probably better known for its tapas and flamenco. Seville is currently preparing to host the 31st European Film Awards next year. In second position is Detroit, also known as the Motor City, which took a hit when the US motor industry collapsed, but has since developed a thriving arts scene. If you're keen to take up Lonely Planet's recommendation, our weekender's guide might come in handy.
Always fancied hanging a gallery-worthy masterpiece on your wall, but don't have anywhere near the hefty budget needed to make that dream a reality? Adore that idea, but believe that great art belongs in galleries where the general public can see it? Whether you're an art lover without deep pockets or a huge supporter of art museums, here's a handy, creative and gorgeous new alternative: building one of the most famous paintings ever crafted out of Lego. If you can construct flowers out of the colourful plastic blocks, brightening up your home with succulents, orchids, bouquets and bonsai fashioned out of bricks, then recreating phenomenal art is the easy next step. The toy brand has come up with the kit to do just that in collaboration with New York's Museum of Modern Art — and the pair have chosen quite the piece to reimagine in 2316 pieces. Painted in 1889, and a mesmerising, twinkling, blue-dripping sight to behold, Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night is a post-impressionist wonder. When you're making it out of Lego, we recommend busting out the bricks next to a window with a view — given that van Gogh created the OG piece, entrancing colours, brush strokes and all, after taking inspiration from his vantage at the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy, France. Unsurprisingly, The Starry Night is a big hit at MoMA, where it has been on display since 1935 — but now you can put together a version to look at whenever you want. Firmly designed for adults, Lego and MoMa's The Starry Night set measures 40 centimetres long, 21 centimetres wide and 28 centimetres high. And, yes, you can hang the 3D piece on your wall. Also included in the kit, which'll cost AU$259.99 / NZ $279.99 when it goes on sale on Wednesday, June 1: a van Gogh minifigure. It comes with a paint brush, palette, easel and mini painting on a printed tile, and there's an arm that you can attach to the big version of the The Starry Night, too, to show the artist painting the scene. It's been a great few years to be a fan of van Gogh Down Under — so if you went to the National Gallery of Victoria's huge van Gogh exhibition back in 2017, or enjoyed stepping into The Starry Night during multisensory showcase Van Gogh Alive's past Australian and New Zealand stops, this is the Lego set for you. For more information about Lego's new The Starry Night, which goes on sale on Wednesday, June 1, head to the company's website.
Fans of Muji's minimalist homewares and consumer goods will be glad to know that the Japanese megastore isn't done with Sydney yet. With recent news of the newly opened Muji hotels in Japan and China, we were starting to feel a bit like their neglected middle child. But, according to a blog post, the north shore will get its very own MUJI outpost in March. A sister store to The Galeries on George Street, the newbie will be Australia's first multi-level Muji, and the place will be big, covering a whopping 884 square metres at Westfield Chatswood. You can expect it to be stocking all the usual homeware goods, along with men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories, skincare products, stationery, back-to-school/work necessities and travel goods. Their simple designs are also eco‐friendly with minimal packaging, so you really can't go wrong here. The store will open on Wednesday, March 21 with a range of special offers and even a Muji exhibition. We're personally down on bended knees, wishing and hoping that this store will be selling those flat-pack homes and tiny pre-fab huts that we've been waiting so very long for. Muji Chatswood will open on March 21, 2018. Keep an eye on Muji's Facebook and Instagram for updates. Updated: February 27, 2018. Image: Muji/Facebook.
Another summer, another excuse to round up the crew for a boozy brunch. This year, bringing the good times in spades is Pelicano with a month-long brunch series, so you can get your catch-up in before the year is out. Every Saturday in December, the Double Bay bar is hosting a decadent feast. Just book a table from 1pm, preferably on the dreamy outdoor terrace, and you and your friends will be treated to a four-course Mediterranean-inspired meal for $55 a head. Better yet, Pelicano has teamed up with Absolut Vodka to celebrate the launch of Grapefruit Absolut, so expect plenty of summery cocktails, too. You'll score your drink of choice for no extra cost. It may be a classic vodka and tonic, made with Absolut Grapefruit, or the Grapefruit Glamour — a concoction of Absolut Grapefruit, mandarin, lime and coconut. Either way, it'll be made in front of your eyes on a roving cocktail trolley. Plus, being made with the tangy and refreshing spirit, it'll be great for kicking back in the sun with mates. Want to take things up a notch? You can keep the fun times going and opt for bottomless Mumm Petit Cordon sparkling for just $30 per person. To book your spot, head to the Pelicano website.
